t^ammm'affmafm 

IMllilfll'tlilraili 

'imZ%mgi?!Hx&:\^ii&*t£?n:  S-K- '.;••' 


ifl 
liiiSii^^IMMil'jilllliifiiHlM 


\   A. -vs. 

e>^ 


THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 

Rare  Book  Room 
GIFT  OF 

John  W.  Beckman 


C^V  ^&t^Ue-c^L 


<JU 


.V. 


THE    LITTLE    EXILES. 


Frontispiece 


THE 


BABES  IN  THE  BASKET; 


OR, 


lur 


BY  THK  AUTHOR  OF 
TIMID    LUCY,"    "HEART    AND    HAND,"    ETC. 


NEW    YOR 
ANSON   D.    F.    RANDOLPH, 

C88     BKOADWAY. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1S58,  by 

ANSON  D.  F.   KANDOLPH, 

In  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  United  States,  for 
the  Southern  District  of  New  York. 


EDWARD  O.  JENKINS, 

printer  &  .Sterrotgper, 
No.  26  FRANKFORT  STRKET. 


CONTENTS. 


CHAP.   I.— A  MOONLIGHT  VISITOR          .        .  5 

"      IL— THE  "  MARTHA  JANE "  .        ,        .  13 

"  III.— THE  WATER-LILY  ....  33 
«  IV.— THE  RED  HOUSE  WITH  THE  BLUE 

SHUTTERS 53 

"      V.— DAPH'S  SHOPPING  ....  69 

"    VI.— CLOUDS •      .  81 

"  VII.— A  NEW  PATH    .....  92 

"VIII.— NEWS 107 

"    IX.— A  MINISTERING  SPIRIT          .        .  129 

"  X.— STRANGE  PROCEEDINGS  .  .  146 
"  XL— ANOTHER  FRIEND  .  .  .155 
"  XII.— HOME  SCENES  .  .  .  .176 

"XIII.— MARY  RAY 190 

"  XIV.— THE  BASKET  OVERTURNED    .  203 

"  XV.— THE  END  213 


(iii) 


THE 


in  111  I 


OR, 

DAPH  AND    HER    CHARGE. 


86* 

THE  evening  air  stole  gently  into  a 
quiet  room  in  a  southern  island,  more 
than  sixty  years  ago. 

There  were  no  casements  in  the  wide 
windows ;  the  heavy  shutters  were 
thrown  back,  and  the  moonlight  pour 
ed,  in  long,  unbroken  streams,  across 
the  polished,  un-carpeted  floor. 

Within  the  large  pleasant  room,  two 

(5) 


BABES   IN   THE   BASKET. 


children  were  sleeping  in  their  cur 
tained  beds,  like  birds  in  pretty  cages. 
Suddenly  there  was  a  cautious  tread 
in  the  hall,  and  then  a  strange  figure 
stood  silently  in  the  moonlight.  Without 
candle,  or  taper,  might  have  been  plain 
ly  seen  the  short,  strongly-built  woman, 

whose  black  face  and  gay  turban  form- 
i 

ed  a  striking  contrast  to  the  fair  child 
ren  in  their  loose,  white  night-dresses. 

Who  was  that  dark  intruder,  and 
what  was  her  secret  errand,  in  that 
quiet  room  ? 

It  was  Daph.  black  Daph,  and  when 
you  have  heard  more  about  her,  you 
can  better  judge  whether  she  came  as 
a  friend,  or  an  enemy,  to  the  sleeping 
children  of  her  master. 


THE   MOONLIGHT   VISITOR. 


The  large  mirror,  bright  in  the  moon 
light,  seemed  to  have  an  irresistible 
attraction  for  the  negro,  and  the  sight 
of  her  black  face  fully  reflected  there, 
made  her  show  her  white  teeth  in  a 
grin  of  decided  approval.  The  pleased 
expression,  however,  disappeared  al 
most  instantly,  as  she  said  impatiently, 
"Foolish  darky,  spendin  dese  precious 
time,  looking  at  your  own  ugly  face !" 

At  this  whispered  exclamation,  the 
children  stirred  uneasily.  "  If  I  mus, 
I  mus !"  said  Daph,  resolutely,  as  she 
drew  from  her  pocket  a  box,  contain 
ing  two  small  pills.  With  the  pills  in 
her  hand  she  approached  the  bed-side 
of  the  little  girl,  who  was  now  half 
sitting  up,  and  looking  at  Daph,  witl 


i 


8  BABES  IN  THE   BASKET. 

the  bewildered  expression  of  one  sud 
denly  aroused  from  sleep. 

Daph  put  aside  the  mosquito  bar, 
and  said,  coaxingly,  "  Take  dis,  Miss 
Lou,  quick  as  you  can,  and  don't  go 
for  waking  Mass  Charley,  asleep  da  in 
dat  beauty  bed  of  his.'7 

Daph  had  slipped  the  pill  into  a 
juicy  bit  of  pineapple,  which  she  seem 
ed  to  have  had  ready  for  the  purpose, 
and  the  child  instantly  swallowed  it. 
With  one  trustful,  pleasant  glance  from 
her  large,  blue  eyes,  the  fair-haired 
little  girl  sank  back  on  her  pillow, 
and  was  soon  in  the  sweet  sleep  of  in 
nocence. 

As  soon  as  Daph  saw  the  small, 
slender  hands  lie  open  and  relaxed, 

' 


A   MOONLIGHT  VISITOR.  9 


she  closed  the  gauze-like  curtains,  and 
stole  to  the  cradle-bed  of  the  little 
boy.  She  raised  his  head  gently  on 
her  arm,  and  placed  in  his  mouth  a  bit 
of  the  same  juicy  fruit  she  had  given 
his  sister,  containing  another  of  those 
hidden  pills,  which  she  seemed  so  anxi 
ous  to  administer.  The  child  did  not 
wnke,  but  the  sweet  morsel  was  plea 
sant  to  his  taste,  and  no  doubt  mingled 
in  his  baby-dreams  of  the  joys  of  the 
pleasant  world  in  which  he  had  passed 
but  little  more  than  a  twelve  month. 

Daph  now  set  to  work  busily  to  fill 
a  huge  basket,  which  she  brought  from 
some  place  of  deposit  near  at  hand. 
The  drawers  of  the  bureau,  and  the 
contents  of  the  elegant  dressing-case 


10  BABES   IN  THE   BASKET. 


she  thoroughly  over-hauled,  making 
such  selections  as  seemed  to  please 
her  fancy,  and  being  withal  somewhat 
dainty  in  her  choice.  Children's  cloth 
ing,  of  the  finest  and  best,  formed  the 
lowest  layer  in  the  basket ;  then  fol 
lowed  a  sprinkling  of  rings  and  neck 
laces,  interspersed  with  the  choice  furni 
ture  of  the  rich  dressing-case.  Over  all 
was  placed  a  large  light  shawl,  with  its 
many  soft  folds,  and  then  Daph  viewed 
the  success  of  her  packing  with  much 
satisfaction. 

Quietly  and  stealthily  she  approach 
ed  the  bed,  where  the  little  girl  was 
sleeping  so  soundly  that  she  did  not 
wake,  even  when  Daph  lifted  her  in 
her  strong  arms,  and  laid  her  gently  in 


A   MOONLIGHT   VISITOR.  11 


the  great  basket, — the  choicest  treasure 
of  all.  In  another  moment  the  plump, 
rosy  boy  was  lying  with  his  fairy-like 
sister,  in  that  strange  resting-place. 
Daph  looked  at  them,  as  they  lay  side 
by  side,  and  a  tear  rolled  over  her  dark 
cheeks,  and,  as  it  fell,  sparkled  in  the 
moonlight. 

The  negro  had  taken  up  a  white 
cloth,  and  was  in  the  act  of  throwing 
it  over  the  basket,  when  a  small  book, 
with  golden  clasps,  suddenty  caught 
her  eye  ;  rolling  it  quickly  in  a  soft, 
rich  veil,  she  placed  it  between  the 
children,  and  her  task  was  done. 

It  was  but  the  work  of  a  moment, 
to  fasten  on  the  cloth-covering  with  a 
stout  string  j  then,  with  one  strong  ef- 


12  BABES   IN  THE   BASKET. 


fort,  Daph  stooped,  took  the  basket  on 
her  head,  and  went  forth  from  the  door 
with  as  stately  a  step  as  if  she  wore  a 
crown. 


II. 
8ft*   "Paytfta  gatt*/' 

THERE  was  the  bustle  of  departure, 
on  board  a  Yankee  schooner,  which 
some  hope  of  gain  had  brought  to  the 
southern  island,  named  in  our  last 
chapter.  The  fresh  and  favorable 
breeze  hurried  the  preparations  of  the 
sailors,  as  they  moved  about  full  of 
glad  thoughts  of  return  to  their  distant 
home. 

The  boat,  which  had  been  sent  a- 
fchore  for  some  needful  supplies,  was 
fast  approaching  the  vessel,  and  in  it, 

(13) 


14  BABES   IN   THE   BASKET. 


among  the  rough  tars,  was  Daph,  her 
precious  basket  at  her  side,  and  her 
bright  eyes  passing  from  face  to  face, 
with  an  eager,  wistful  glance,  that 
seemed  trying  to  read  the  secrets  of 
each  heart. 

"  Here  !  go-a-head,  woman  !  I'll 
hand  up  your  chickens  ;"  said  one  of 
the  sailors,  as  they  reached  the  an 
chored  schooner. 

"  I  keeps  my  chickens  to  myself," 
said  Daph,  as  she  placed  the  basket  on 
her  head,  and  went  up  the  side  of  the 
vessel,  as  steadily  and  securely  as  the 
eldest  tar  of  all. 

As  soon  as  she  set  her  foot  on  deck, 
the  sailors  thronged  around  her,  offer 
ing  to  take  her  chickens  from  her,  at 


THE    "  MARTHA  JANE."  15 

her  own  price,  and  passing  their  rough 
jokes  on  her  stout  figure  and  shining 
black  face.  One  young  sailor,  bolder 
than  the  rest,  laid  his  hand  on  the 
basket,  and  had  well-nigh  torn  away 
its  cover.  The  joke  might  have  proved 
a  dangerous  one  for  him.  A  blow  from 
Daph's  strong  arm  sent  him  staggering 
backwards,  and  in  another  moment, 
the  negress  had  seized  an  oar,  and  was 
brandishing  it  round  her  head,  threat 
ening  with  destruction  any  one  who 
should  dare  to  touch  her  property,  and 
declaring  that  with  the  captain,  and 
with  him  alone,  would  she  treat  for 
the  chickens,  about  which  so  much  had 
been  said. 

"  Cap 'in,"  said  she,  as  a  tall,  firmly- 


16  BABES  IN  THE  BASKET. 


knit  man  drew  near  the  scene  of  the 
disturbance  ;  "  Cap 'in,  it's  you,  sah,  I 
wants  to  speak  wid,  and  just  you  by 
yourself,  away  from  these  fellows,  who 
don't  know  how  to  treat  a  'spectable 
darkie,  who  belongs  to  the  greatest 
gentleman  in  the  island.  Let  me  see 
you  in  your  little  cubby  there,  and  if 
you  have  an  heart  in  you,  we'll  make 
a  bargain." 

There  was  something  so  earnest  in 
the  woman's  manner,  that  Captain 
Jones  at  once  consented  to  her  odd 
request,  smiling  at  himself  as  he  did 
so. 

A  kind  of  temporary  cabin  had  been 
put  up  on  deck,  for  the  protection  of 
the  captain  from  the  hot  rays  of  the 


THE    "MARTHA   JANE."  17 


southern  sun.  It  was  but  a  rude 
frame-work,  covered  with  sail-cloth, 
and  yet,  when  the  canvas  door  was 
closed,  it  formed  a  pleasant  and  cool 
place  of  retirement  for  an  afternoon 
nap,  or  for  the  transaction  of  private 
business. 

To  that  spot  Daph  followed  the 
captain,  her  basket  on  her  head,  and 
her  firm  step  and  consequential  air 
seeming  to  say  to  the  sailors, — "You 
see,  your  captain  knows  better  than 
you  do  how  to  treat  such  a  person  as 
I  am." 

When  they  were  once  within  the 
little  enclosure,  Daph's  manner  chan 
ged.  She  put  down  her  precious  bas 
ket,  and  looking  the  captain  directly 


18  BABES   IX   THE   BASKET. 

in  the  eye,  she  said,  solemnly,  "  Cap'in, 
would  you  see  a  man  struggle  for  his 
life  in  de  deep  water,  outside  da,  and 
nebber  lift  your  hand  to  save  him  ? 
Would  you  see  a  house  on  fire,  and 
sweet  baby-children  burning  in  it,  and 
just  look  on  to  see  de  awsome  blaze, 
and  nebber  stir  to  save  de  dear  babies  ? 
Cap'in,  I'se  brought  you  a  good  work 
to  do.  Dey  say  de  great  Lord  blesses 
dem  dat  cares  for  little  children,  and 
gives  dem  a  good  seat  in.  heaven. 
Swear  by  de  great  Lord  you  wont  tell 
de  dreadsome  secret  I'se  going  to  tell 
you  !  Swear !  time  is  short !" 

The  kind-hearted  captain  was  im 
pressed  by  the  earnest  manner  of  the 
woman,  and  not  a  little  curious  to 


19 


hear  the  secret  that  seemed  to  fill  her 
with  such  strong  feeling  ;  "  I  swear, " 
said  he,'  simply,  "  go  on  !" 

"  De  darkies  in  dis  island,'7  said 
Daph,  slowly,  "  de  darkies  are  crazy 
for  de  blood  of  der  masters.  Poor, 
wicked  fools !  Dey  means  to  have 
enough  of  it  to-night !  By  to-morrow 
morning,  de  white  faces  on  dis  coast 
will  ebery  one  be  white  wid  de  death- 
whiteness  !  Old  folks  and  little  child 
ren — dey  mean  to  kill  dem  all  !  Dey 
told  Daph  deir  secret,  as  if  dey  thought 
she  was  all  black,  inside  and  out.  De 
Lord  forgib  Daph,  dat  she  did  not 
strike  dem  down,  where  dey  stood 
shewing  deir  teeth,  at  the  thought  of 
living  in  master's  house,  and  he  cold 


20  BABES   IN   THE   BASKET. 


in  de  grave  !  Dear  massa  and  missus 
are  up  in  de  country,  and  Daph  could 
n't  get  word  to  dem,  but  something  in 
here  said,  '  You  can  save  the  sweet 
babies,  Daph  ;'  so  I  made  as  if  I  was 
ready  to  kill  dose  I  loves  de  best,  and 
set  to  work  a-contriving  how  a  poor, 
foolish  darky  could  save  dose  sweet 
lambs.  Your  men  was  always  glad  to 
take  Daph's  chickens,  and  so  de  way 
seemed  open.  I'se  put  my  darlings  in 
de  basket,  and  here  dey  are  for  you  to 
take  care  ob  for  de  Lord,  and  he'll 
reckon  wid  you  for  it.  It  aint  likely 
dey'll  have  any  friends  to  stand  by  em, 
and  thank  ye  for  it,  'cept  one  poor 
darky,  named  Daph!" 

In  a  twinkling,  Daph  had  torn  off 


THE  "MARTHA  JANE."  21 


the  cover  of  the  basket,  and  there  lay 

n 

the  sleeping  children  ;  calm  and  still 
as  if  on  their  mother's  bosom. 

"  Dey  do  breave,  de  sweet  dears  !" 
said  Daph,  as  she  bent  tenderly  over 
them. 

Great  tears  fell  from  the  eyes  of 
honest  Captain  Jones.  He  was  an  old 
sailor,  but  to  salt  water  in  this  form  he 
had  long  been  a  stranger.  He  tried  to 
speak,  but  the  voice  that  had  been 
heard  above  the  tumult  of  many  a 
storm,  was  now  choked  and  husky. 
In  an  instant  he  regained  his  self-com 
mand,  and  said,  "You  have  found  the 
right  man,  Daph !  No  harm  shall 
come  to  them  so  long  as  my  name  is 
Jeremiah  Jones  !  The  Martha  Jane 


22  BABES   IN  THE   BASKET. 


can  skim  the  water  like  a  wild  duck, 
and  will  be  off  towards  a  better 
country  before  ten  minutes  are 


over  !" 


The  words  were  hardly  out  of  Cap 
tain  Jones's  mouth,  before  he  left  his 
tent-like  cabin,  and  in  a  moment  he 
was  heard  giving  orders  for  instant  de 
parture. 

The  energy  that  had  borne  Daph 
through  her  hour  of  trial,  seemed  to 
desert  her,  now  that  her  object  was 
attained,  and  she  sank  down  beside  the 
little  ones,  sobbing  like  a  child.  She 
felt  herself  a  poor,  helpless,  ignorant 
creature,  going  she  knew  not  whither, 
and  having  assumed  a  charge  she  knew 
not  how  to  fulfil. 


THE  "MARTHA  JANE."  23 

"  De  great  Lord,  dat  missus  loves, 
can  take  care  of  us ! "  thought  the 
humble  negro ;  "He  can  give  poor 
Daph  sense  to  mind  de  babies  !" 

In  her  ignorance,  she  knew  not  how 
to  pray,  but  she  leaned  in  simple  faith 
upon  the  only  source  of  strength,  and 
found  consolation. 

In  a  half-hour  after  the  arrival  of 
Daph  on  board  the  Martha  Jane,  the 
trim  little  vessel  was  speeding  on  her 
homeward  course. 

Captain  Jones  walked  the  deck  in 
deep  meditation,  while  from  their  vari 
ous  positions  his  crew  watched  him 
with  curious  glances.  The  sailors  well 
knew  that  Daph  was  still  on  board, 
but  no  one  had  dared  to  question  the 


24  BABES  IN  THE  BASKET. 


captain's  orders  for  putting  instantly 
out  to  sea. 

Jeremiah  Jones  was  a  thorough  re 
publican,  when  at  home  in  good  old 
Massachusetts  ;  but  once  on  board  the 
Martha  Jane,  he  ruled  with  the  despotic 
power  of  the  Emperor  of  all  the  Rus- 
sias.  His  crew  were  accustomed  to 
submission,  and  murmuring  was  never 
heard  among  them.  They  had  indeed 
no  cause  for  discontent,  for  Captain 
Jones  was  just,  kind-hearted,  and  high- 
principled,  and  he  wisely  ruled  his 
little  realm. 

The  good  captain  had  acted  upon  a 
sudden  impulse,  for  promptness  was 
required,  but  now  came  a  time  for 
sober  reflection. 


THE    "MARTHA  JANE."  25 

"  If  the  darky  has  not  told  the 
truth;"  so  reasoned  he;  "what  has 
Jeremiah  Jones  been  doing  ?  He  has 
kidnapped  a  valuable  servant  and  car 
ried  off  two  children,  belonging  to  a 
man  who  has  the  power  arid  wealth  to 
make  said  Jeremiah  suffer  for  his  mad 
ness.  The  thing  has  been  done  pub 
licly,  and  these  fellows  of  mine  may 
think  it  for  their  interest  to  deliver 
me  up,  as  soon  as  I  set  foot  in  old 
Boston  !" 

These  meditations  did  not  seem  to 
increase  the  peace  of  mind  of  the 
worthy  New  Englander.  He  walked 
the  deck  impatiently  for  a  few  minutes, 
and  then  drew  near  the  objects  of  his 
anxious  thought. 


26  BABES   IN   THE   BASKET. 


He  put  aside  the  canvas  curtain, 
and  stood  for  a  moment  in  the  clear 
moonlight,  watching  the  sleepers. 
Daph  had  thrown  her  arm  protectingly 
round  the  basket,  and  curled  about  it, 
as  if  conscious  of  her  charge,  even  in 
the  deep  slumber  into  which  she  had 
fallen.  That  long,  earnest  look  set  the 
perturbed  mind  of  the  captain  at  rest, 
and  again  the  unwonted  tears  filled  his 
large,  gray  eyes. 

A  state  of  indecision  could  not  last 
long  in  such  a  mind  as  that  of  Captain 
Jones,  a-nd  his  usually  prompt,  authori 
tative  manner  suddenly  returned  to 
him.  He  seized  a  trumpet,  and  gave 
a  shout  of  "  all  hands  on  deck/'  which 
soon  brought  his  eager  crew  about  him. 


27 


In  a  few  words  he  told  Daph's  fear 
ful  story,  and  then  throwing  aside  the 
awning,  he  exposed  to  view  the  sleep 
ing  forms  of  the  negro  and  the  little 
ones,  as  he  said  : 

"  I  have  pledged  myself  to  be  a 
friend  to  those  whom  God  has  sent  me 
to  take  care  of,  my  men,  but  if  there 
is  one  among  you  who  doubts  that 
faithful  creature's  story,  or  who  is 
afraid  to  lend  a  hand  to  save  those 
sweet  throats  from  the  murdering 
knives  of  those  black  rascals  on  shore, 
let  him  stand  out  here,  and  speak  for 
himself.  Let  him  take  a  boat,  and  put 
out  for  the  island,  while  it  is  yet  in 
sight.  We  don't  want  him  here.  He 
shall  have  his  wages,  and  bounty  too, 


28  BABES   IN   THE   BASKET. 


for  the  master  he  serves  is  likely  to 
give  him  little  comfort  in  the  long  run. 
Speak  out,  men,  will  you  stand  by  me, 
or  will  you  go  ashore  ?" 

Every  voice  joined  in  the  hearty 
cheer  with  which  the  captain's  words 
were  received.  Rough  hands  were 
stretched  out  towards  him,  and  he  res 
ponded  to  their  warm  grasp  with  a 
hearty  shake,  as  one  by  one  the  men 
came  up  to  give  him  this  token  of  their 
determination  to  help  him,  in  the  good 
deed  he  had  begun. 

The  cheer  that  was  so  welcome  to 
the  ear  of  Captain  Jones  had  quite  a 
different  effect  upon  poor  Daph.  She 
sprang  to  her  feet  in  wild  alarm,  and 
placing  herself  in  front  of  her  darlings, 


THE    "  MARTHA   JANE/'  29 


stood  ready  to  do  battle  in  their  be 
half. 

The  men  drew  back,  and  Captain 
Jones  hastened  to  explain  to  Daph  the 
hearty  expression  of  good-will  towards 
her,  which  had  risen  spontaneously 
from  the  crew  of  the  Martha  Jane. 

Daph's  apprehensions  were  soon 
quieted,  and,  at  the  suggestion  of  the 
captain,  she  prepared  to  remove  her 
darlings  from  their  strange  resting- 
place  to  one  of  the  small  state-rooms 
below. 

The  children  did  not  wake  while  she 
laid  them  gently  in  the  berth,  and 
stretched  herself  beside  them  on  the 
floor.  Daph  began  to  be  troubled  at 
the  soundness  of  their  long-continued 


30  BABES   IN   THE   BASKET. 

sleep.  She  raised  herself,  and  crouch 
ing  near  them,  she  watched  them  with 
ever-increasing  uneasiness. 

Captain  Jones  was  on  deck,  giving  a 
last  look  to  see  that  all  was  right,  be 
fore  retiring  for  the  night,  when  Daph 
came  hastily  up  to  him,  and  laying  her 
hand  beseechingly  on  his  arm,  she 
said : 

"0!  Cap'in!  I'se  a-feard  I'se  just 
killed  my  pretty  ones  !  dey  do  sleep 
so.  Dem  was  such  little  pills,  dey 
didn't  seem  as  if  dey  could  be  so  migh 
ty  powersome !" 

"  Pills !"  said  the  captain,  with  a 
start ;  "  what  have  you  given  them  ?" 

"I  jus  don't  know  myself/'  said 
Daph,  desperately.  "  Daph  had  de 


THE    "  MARTHA  JANE."  31 


ear-ache  mighty  bad  last  week,  and 
missus,  dear  creeter — she  was  always 
so  kind — she  gibs  me  two  little  pills, 
and  she  says,  '  here  Daph,  you  take 
dese  when  you  goes  to  bed,  and  you 
will  sleep  so  sound,  de  pain  will  all  go 
way!'  I  says,  '  tank'ee  missus,'  of 
course,  and  she  goes  up  to  de  house 
quite  satisfied.  Daph  nebber  did  take 
no  doctor's  stuff,  so  I  puts  de  little 
pills  in  my  pocket,  and  just  roasts  an 
orange  soft,  and  ties  it  warm  outside 
my  ear,  and  goes  to  bed,  and  sleeps 
like  a  lizard.  Now  when  I  thinks  of 
putting  de  children  in  de  basket,  some 
thing  says  to  me,  '  you  gib  dem  dose 
little  pills,  Daph,  dey'll  make  'em  sleep 
sound  'nough.'  So,  I'se  just  did  like  a 


32  BABES   IN  THE   BASKET. 


poor,  foolish  darky."  Here  Dapli  be 
gan  to  cry  piteously. 

Captain  Jones  went  immediately  to 
the  cabin.  The  natural  color  and 
healthy  breathing  of  the  little  sleepers 
soon  assured  him  that  all  was  right. 

11  Courage  !  old  girl !"  said  the  cap 
tain,  cheerily,  "turn  in  yourself,  and 
I'll  warrant  you  the  youngsters  will  be 
none  the  worse  for  your  doctoring !" 

Thus  consoled,  Daph  lay  down  again 
beside  her  charge,  and  the  silence  of 
deep  sleep  soon  prevailed,  not  only  in 
the  little  state-room,  but  throughout 
the  Martha  Jane,  save  when  the  mea 
sured  steps  of  the  watch  sounded  out 
through  the  stillness  of  the  night. 


III. 

S&* 


AT  sunrise  the  morning  after  she  set 
sail,  the  "  Martha  Jane"  was  dancing 
over  the  waves,  far  out  of  sight  of 
mainland  or  island. 

Daph  was  an  early  riser,  and  in  the 
gray  dawn  she  bestirred  herself  with 
her  usual  waking  thought  —  "  This  is  a 
busy  world,  and  Daph  must  be  up  and 
at  work.'7  Her  first  glance  around 
showed  her  that  she  was  not  in  the 
southern  kitchen,  which  had  so  long 
been  her  domain,  and  a  merry  sound 
2*  (33) 


BABES   IN   THE   BASKET. 


near  her  reminded  her  of  the  new 
duties  she  had  undertaken. 

Charlie  was  sitting  up  in  the  berth, 
his  bright  black  eyes  sparkling  with 
delight  at  the  new  scene  in  which  he 
found  himself. 

"  Pretty!  pretty  little  bed!77  were 
the  first  words  that  met  Daph7s  ear. 
The  hearty  hug  with  which  she  res 
ponded  to  this  pleasant  greeting,  and 
the  consequent  laugh  of  the  child, 
roused  his  fair  sister. 

Louise  started  up,  and  looked  wildly 
around  her  ;  "  Where  are  we,  Daffy,77 
she  asked,  anxiously.  "  We7s  just  on 
board  a  beauty  ship,  a-going  to  see 
pretty  countries  over  the  water,77  said 
Daph,  coaxingly. 


THE    WATER-LILY.  35 


"  But  why  do  we  go?"  urged  the 
child,  by  no  means  satisfied. 

11  Cause,  cause,"  said  Daph,  "  cause 
de  great  Lord  tinks  it  best." 

The  face  of  little  Louise  instantly 
took  a  sobered  and  submissive  expres 
sion,  and  she  said  quietly,  u  Well, 
Daffy,  Lou  will  try  to  be  a  good  girl  ; 
where's  Dinah?" 

"  I'se  to  be  nurse  now,  Miss  Lou," 
answered  Daph,  promptly. 

"Oh!  how  nice!  No  cross  Dinah 
any  more !"  exclaimed  the  little  girl, 
clapping  her  hands  with  very  great 
delight. 

Charlie  thought  proper  to  clap  his 
hands,  too,  and  to  cry  out,  boisterously, 
"  Caky  !  caky  !" — a  cry  which  Daph 


36  BABES  IX  THE   BASKET. 

well  understood,  and  for  which  she 
was  amply  prepared. 

She  drew  from  one  of  her  huge 
pockets  some  cakes  for  the  children, 
and  then -they  all  three  began  to  chat 
as  pleasantly  as  if  they  were  at  their 
favorite  resort,  under  the  old  tree 
that  grew  in  front  of  Daph's  southern 
kitchen. 

Daph  found  it  a  difficult  business  to 
dress  her  young  master  and  mistress, 
but  Louise  was  a  helpful  little  creature, 
and  was  of  great  assistance  in  enabling 
the  new  nurse  to  select  the  suitable 
garments,  from  the  store  that  had  been 
hastily  thrust  into  the  great  basket. 

It  was  an  easy  matter  to  comb 
Louise's  soft,  straight  golden  hair  off 


THE   WATER-LILY.  37 

her  fair  forehead,  but  it  was  another 
thing  to  deal  with  master  Charlie  rs 
mop  of  short,  chestnut  curls.  The 
new  bond  between  Daph  and  the  sturdy 
boy  had  well  nigh  been  broken,  by  the 
smart  pulls  she  gave,  in  the  course  of 
her  unskilful  efforts. 

When  Captain  Jones  came  into  the 
cabin  after  his  usual  round  on  deck,  in 
the  morning,  he  was  greeted  by  the 
sound  of  merry  young  voices,  which 
struck  strangely  on  his  ear. 

Daph  gave  one  peep  from  the  state 
room,  to  be  sure  who  was  near  at 
hand,  and  then  leading  out  the  child 
ren,  she  bade  them  "  go  right  to  the 
very  kindest  gentleman  that  anybody 
ever  had  for  a  friend." 


38  BABES   IN   THE   BASKET. 


Charlie  put  out  his  arms  towards  the 
honest  captain,  who  took  the  little 
fellow  warmly  to  his  heart. 

Louise  held  on  to  Daph's  apron  with 
one  hand,  and  the  other  she  put  out 
timidly  towards  her  new  friend. 

That  small,  soft,  gentle  hand  was 
placed  in  the  hard,  dark  palm  of  the 
captain,  quietly  as  a  flower  might  fall 
on  a  wayside  path.  Captain  Jones 
bent  tenderly  down  to  the  fair,  slender 
child,  and  kissed  her  smooth  forehead. 
She  loosened  her  hold  of  Daph,  and 
nestled  at  his  side.  Again  those 
stranger-tears  filled  the  captain's  eyes, 
but  he  did  not  look  the  worse  for 
them,  or  for  the  kindly  smile  that 
beamed  from  his  fraiik,  sun-burnt  face. 


THE  WATER-LILY.  39 


An  odd  looking  party  sat  round 
the  breakfast-table,  in  the  cabin,  that 
morning.  Captain  Jones  was  at  the 
head,  with  Charlie  on  his  knee  ;  oppo 
site  him  was  perched  the  little  Louise, 
while  the  weather-browned  faces  of 
the  mates  appeared  at  the  sides. 

Daph  had  claimed  the  privilege  of 
milking  "  Passenger/7  the  cow — which 
Captain  Jones  had  taken  with  him  on 
many  voyages,  and  on  which  he  had 
lavished  much  of  the  surplus  affection 
of  his  bachelor-heart. 

"  Passenger,"  would  have  found  out 
that  she  had  powerful  rivals,  if  she 
could  have  seen  Charlie,  enjoying  his 
cup  of  fresh  milk  on  the  captain's 
knee,  and  Louise  looking  at  him  with 


40  BABES   IN  THE   BASKET. 


mild  trustful  glances,  that  went  right 
to  his  heart. 

Daph  saw  all  this,  if  "  Passenger'' 
did  not,  and  with  her  white  teeth  in 
full  sight  she  moved  round  the  table, 
in  the  position  of  waiter,  which  she 
had  assumed  to  keep  her  darlings  in 
view,  and  to  have  a  care  that  their 
new  friends,  in  their  abundant  kind 
ness,  did  not  feed  them  too  freely  with 
sailor's  fare. 

That  was  a  happy  day  to  the  child 
ren — that  first  day  on  board  the 
"  Martha  Jane," — and  the  captain  pro 
phesied  that  Charlie  would  "  stand 
the  sea  like  an  old  salt,"  and  Louise 
would  be  as  much  at  home  on  it  as 
the  "Martha  Jane"  herself. 


THE  WATER  LILY.  41 

There  had  been  a  fresh  breeze  all 
day,  but  towards  evening  the  wind 
grew  stronger,  and  Daph  would  have 
found  it  hard  to  carry  even  a  trifle  on 
that  head  of  hers,  which  had  so  steadi 
ly  borne  many  a  heavy  burden.  She 
began  also  to  experience  certain 
strange  internal  sensations,  for  which 
she  could  not  account ;  but  the  faith 
ful  creature  bore  up  without  a  com 
plaint,  though  she  staggered  to  and 
fro  in  a  way  which  made  the  rough 
sailors  laugh  merrily  at  her  expense. 

Poor  Daph  !  Such  sufferings  as  hers 
could  not  long  be  kept  secret.  Through 
the  live-long  night  she  lay  in  the  an 
guish  of  sea-sickness,  which  can  only 
be  appreciated  by  those  who  have 


42  BABES  IN  THE  BASKET. 


experienced  its  miseries.  In  her  ig 
norance,  she  supposed  herself  to  have 
been  seized  by  some  fearful  malady, 
which  must  soon  take  her  life. 

"  Daph  would  be  glad  to  die,  she  so 
awsome  sick,'7  she  said  to  herself,  "  but 
den,  who  will  mind  de  babies?  No, 
no !  Daph  wont  die  yet.  '  De  great 
Lord  wont  let  her  ;  Daph  knows  he 
wont !" 

For  two  days  the  poor  negro  wres 
tled  mightily  against  the  horrors  of 
sea-sickness,  bearing  up  with  the  mo 
tive,  "  Daph  must  live  for  de  babies !" 

Meanwhile,  Captain  Jones  had  all 
the  charge  of  his  new  pets.  "  Passen 
ger  "  was  quite  forgotten,  as  the  stout 
sailor  walked  the  deck,  with  Charlie 


THE   WATER-LILY.  43 


peeping  out  from  under  his  rough 
overcoat,  and  Louise  walking  at  his 
side,  wrapped  in  the  long  soft  shawl 
that  Daph  had  stowed  away  in  that 
wonderful  basket. 

They  had  strange  talks  together — 
that  strong  man  and  those  prattling 
children — and  they  learned  much  from 
each  other.  He  told  of  the  wonders 
of  the  sea — the  great  whales  and  the 
floating  ice-bergs — and  the  petrel,  that 
the  sailor  never  kills.  Many  long 
years,  Captain  Jones  had  made  the  sea 
his  home,  and  much  he  knew,  which 
books  had  never  taught  him,  yet  in 
little  more  than  three  short  years, 
Louise  had  caught  a  priceless  secret, 
which  he  had  never  found  in  any  land. 


BABES  IN  THE   BASKET. 

He  was  familiar  with  the  wonders  of 
nature,  but  to  her  the  Great  Creator, 
to  whom  he  was  a  stranger,  was  as 
a  familiar,  trusted  friend.  The  marvels 
which  Captain  Jones  could  tell  of  the 
ocean,  but  increased  her  wonder  at  His 
power,  who  "made  the  heavens,  the 
earth,  the  sea,  and  all  that  in  them  is," 
and  in  her  simple  way  she  would 
"  praise  the  Lord  for  all  his  wonderful 
works.'7  Charlie  little  knew  of  the 
strong  feelings  which  agitated  the 
breast  to  which  he  was  clasped,  while 
his  little  sister  lisped  of  the  lessons 
learned  at  her  mother's  knee. 

Those  days  of  Daph's  sickness  were 
precious  days  to  Captain  Jones,  and  he 
was  almost  sorry  when  the  stout  negro 


THE  WATER-LILY.  45 


triumphed  over  her  enemy,  and  came 
on  deck  to  resume  her  charge. 

The  air  grew  chill  as  the  "  Martha 
Jane  "  sped  on  her  northward  course, 
and  the  white  dresses  of  the  children 
fluttered,  most  unseasonably,  in  the 
cool  breeze.  The  ship's  stores  were 
ransacked  for  some  material,  of  which 
to  make  them  more  suitable,  though 
extempore  clothing.  A  roll  of  red 
flannel  was  all  that  promised  to  answer 
the  purpose.  The  captain  took  the 
place  of  master- workman,  and  cut  out 
what  he  called  "  a  handsome  suit  for  a 
pair  of  sea-birds  •"  and  Daph,  with 
her  clumsy  fingers,  made  the  odd  gar 
ments.  She  felt  ready  to  cry  as  she 
put  them  on,  to  see  her  pets  so  dis- 


46  BABES   IN   THE   BASKET. 


figured  ;  but  Captain  Jones  laughed  at 
her  dolorous  face,  and  said  the  red 
frock  only  made  his  ''lily'7  look  the 
fairer,  and  turned  Charlie  into  the 
sailor  he  should  be. 

The  "  Martha  Jane  "  was  Hearing 
the  familiar  waters  of  her  own  north 
ern  home,  when  the  Captain  called 
Daph  into  the  cabin,  one  evening,  to  con 
sult  with  her  on  matters  of  importance. 

With  the  happy  disposition  of  the 
negro,  Daph  seemed  to  have  forgotten 
that  she  was  not  always  to  live  on 
board  the  "  Martha  Jane/'  and  under 
the  kind  protection  of  her  sailor-friend  ; 
she  was,  therefore,  not  a  little  startled, 
when  he  addressed  to  her  the  blunt 
question  : 


THE   WATER-LILY.  47 

"  Where  are  you  §oing,  Daph  ?" 
Now,  Daph  had  a  most  indistinct 
idea  of  the  world  at  large,  but,  thus 
brought  suddenly  to  a  decision,  she 
promptly  named  the  only  northern 
city  of  which  she  had  heard.  "  I'se 
going  to  New  York,"  she  said  ;  "  Miss 
Elize,  my  dear  missus,  was  born  dere, 
and  it  seems  de  right  sort  of  a  place  to 
be  takin  de  sweet  babies  to." 

"  Daph,"  said  the  honest  captain, 
"  we  shall  put  in  to  New  York  to 
morrow,  for  I  have  freight  to  land 
there,  but  you  had  better  go  on  with 
me  to  old  Boston.  There  I  can  look 
after  you  a  little,  and  put  you  under 
charge  of  my  good  mother ;  and  a 
better  woman  never  trod  shoe-leather, 


48  BABES  IN  THE   BASKET. 


for  all   her  son  i$  none  of  the  best. 
Shall  it  be  so,  Daph  ?" 

"  Could  n't  do  it!  Massa  Cap'in. 
Boston  !  dat  mus  be  mighty  far  off.  I 
nebber  hear  tell  of  such  a  place.  New 
York's  de  home  for  my  babies,  just 
where  missus  was  born.  May  be,  some 
ob  her  grand  cousins  may  be  turn  in  up 
da,  to  be  friends  to  de  pretty  dears. 
Nobody  would  eber  find  us,  way  off  in 
Boston  !" 

It  was  in  vain  that  the  captain  tried 
to  change  Daph's  resolution  ;  to  New 
York  she  would  go,  and  he  now  at 
tacked  her  at  another  point,  asking, 
"  What  are  you  going  to  do  when  you 
get  there,  Daph  ?  Have  you  got  any 
money  ?" 


THE   WATER-LILY.  49 


"  Not  so  berry  much  to  begin  wid," 
said  Daph,  producing  a  bit  of  rag  from 
her  pocket,  in  which  some  small  change, 
the  result  of  her  traffic  in  chickens, 
was  stored.  "  Not  much  money,  Massa 
Cap'in,  as  you  see  for  yeself  j  but  what 
do  you  tink  ob  dese  ?"  Daph  loosened 
her  dress,  and  showed  on  her  black 
neck  several  gold  chains,  hung  with 
rings  of  great  richness  and  value,  and 
an  old-fashioned  necklace,  set  with 
precious  stones.  "  What  do  you  tink 
ob  dese,  Massa  Cap'in  ?"  she  repeated, 
as  she  displayed  her  treasures  to  his 
astonished  sight. 

Daph  had  put  her  valuables  on  for 
safe-keeping,  doubtless,  yet  not  without 
a  certain  satisfaction  in  wearing  articles 
3 


50  BABES  IX  THE   BASKET. 

which  so  gratified  the  love  of  finery 
common  to  the  black  race. 

The  captain  looked  at  the  jewelry 
with  a  sober,  pitying  expression,  as  he 
said,  compassionately,  "  Poor  Daph  ! 
If  you  should  offer  one  of  those  rich 
chains  for  sale  in  New  York,  you  might 
be  hurried  off  to  jail  as  a  thief,  in  a 
twinkling  ;  then  what  would  become 
of  my  pets  ?" 

Daph  betook  herself  to  tears  for  a 
few  moments,  and  then  rallied,  and 
said,  stoutly,  "  Daph  can  work  for  de 
babies.  She's  a  strong  darky.  Heard 
massa  say  many  a  time,  Daph  would 
bring  a  big  price.  Daph  will  make 
heaps  of  money,  and  keep  young 
massa  and  missus  libbing  like  great 
folks,  as  dey  should." 


THE   WATER-LILY.  51 

At  this  idea,  Daph's  face  regained 
all  its  usual  cheerfulness,  and  she  could 
not  be  shaken  by  the  further  doubts  and 
fears  brought  forward  by  Captain  Jones. 

"  Keep  what  you  have  round  your 
neck  safely  then,  Daph,"  said  the 
honest  sailor,  "  and  never  try  to  sell 
them,  unless  you  are  ready  to  starve. 
Here's  a  little  purse  of  solid  gold,  that 
I  meant  as  a  present  for  my  mother  ; 
she,  good  soul,  would  rather  you  had 
it,  I  know.  This  will  keep  you  till 
you  can  get  a  start,  and  then,  may  be, 
you  can  work  for  the  dear  children,  as 
you  say.  I  have  an  acquaintance  in 
New  York,  who  may  let  you  a  room 
or  two,  and  if  she  can  take  you  in, 
you  may  get  along." 


52  BABES  IX  THE   BASKET. 


"  I  knew  de  great  Lord  would  look 
out  for  us.  His  name  be  praised !" 
said  the  poor  negro,  gratefully,  as  she 
kissed  the  hand  of  Captain  Jones. 
"  Ye  wont  lose  your  reward,  Massa 
Cap'in  ;  He'll  reckon  wid  ye !"  and 
she  pointed  reverently  upwards. 

"  May  He  reckon  with  me  in  mercy, 
and  not  count  up  my  sins  !"  the  cap 
tain  said,  solemnly,  and  then  bade 
Daph  "good-night." 


1, 


Ifa  <&*&  ITOW  wm  tfc*  jjtim 
JWRtttr*. 

CAPTAIN  JONES  was  a  prompt  and 
upright  business-man,  faithful  to  his 
engagements,  at  any  sacrifice. 

He  was  pledged  to  remain  in  New 
York  the  shortest  possible  space  of 
time,  he  therefore  had  not,  after  at 
tending  to  necessary  business,  even  an 
hour  to  devote  to  Daph  and  the  little 
ones.  It  was  a  sad  moment  to  him, 
when  he  strained  Charlie  to  his  breast 
for  the  last  time,  and  kissed  his 

(53) 


54  BABES   IN   THE   BASKET. 


"Water-lily,"  as  he  loved  to  call 
Louise. 

He  had  given  Daph  a  letter  to  a 
sailor's  widow,  with  whom  he  thought 
she  would  be  able  to  secure  a  home, 
where  she  would  escape  the  idle  and 
vicious  poor  who  congregated  in  less 
respectable  parts  of  the  city.  After 
having  made  Daph  count  on  her  fin 
gers,  half  a  dozen  times,  the  number 
of  streets  she  must  cross  before  she 
came  to  "  the  small  red  house,  with 
blue  shutters,'7  where  she  was  to  stop, 
he  piloted  the  little  party  into  Broad 
way,  and  setting  their  faces  in  the 
right  direction,  he  bade  them  an 
affectionate  farewell. 

As  he  shook  Daph's  black  hand  for 


55 


the  last  time,  she  placed  in  his  a  small 
parcel,  clumsily  tied  up  in  brown 
paper,  saying,  "  You  puts  that  in  your 
pocket,  Massa  Cap'in,  and  when  you 
gets  to  sea,  you  open  it,  and  you  will 
understand  what  Daph  means.7 

Captain  Jones  did,  almost  uncon 
sciously,  as  Daph  suggested,  as,  with  a 
full  heart,  he  turned  away  from  the 
little  ones  who  had  become  so  dear  to 
him. 

Once  more,  the  only  protector  of 
her  master's  children,  Daph's  energy 
seemed  to  return  to  her.  She  wound 
the  shawl  more  closely  about  Louise, 
drew  Charlie  to  her  honest  bosom, 
looked  after  the  various  bundles,  and 
then  set  off  at  a  regular  marching  pace. 


56  BABES  IN  THE   BASKET. 


The  strange  appearance  of  the  little 
party,  soon  attracted  the  attention  of 
the  knots  of  idle  boys,  who  even  then 
infested  the  more  populous  parts  of 
New  York. 

"  Hallo,  Darky  !  where 's  your  hand- 
organ  ?  What'll  ye  take  for  your 
monkeys  ?"  shouted  one  of  these  young 
rascals,  as  he  eyed  the  children  in 
their  odd-looking  red  flannel  gar 
ments. 

Louise  clung  closely  to  Daph,  who 
strode  steadily  on,  apparently  uncon 
scious  of  the  little  troop  gathering  in 
her  rear.  By  degrees  the  young 
scamps  drew  nearer  to  her,  and  one 
of  them,  taking  hold  of  the  skirt  of 
her  dress,  cried  out,  "  Come,  fellows, 


THE   RED   HOUSE,    ETC.  57 


form  a  line  !  Follow  the  captain,  and 
do  as  you  see  me  do  !" 

A  long  string  of  boys  arranged 
themselves  behind  Daph,  each  holding 
on  to  the  other's  tattered  garments, 
and  walking  with  mock  solemnity, 
while  the  foremost  shouted  in  Daph's 
ear  the  most  provoking  and  impudent 
things  his  imagination  and  rascality 
could  suggest. 

Daph  maintained  her  apparent  un 
consciousness  until  she  came  in  front 
of  a  large  door,  with  a  deep  recess, 
which  opened  directly  on  the  street, 
and  but  a  step  above  the  pavement. 

With  a  sudden  and  unexpected  jerk 
she  freed  herself  from  her  tormentor, 
then  placing  Charlie  and  Louise  for  a 


58  BABES   IN   THE   BASKET. 


moment  in  the  recess,  she  charged 
upon  her  assailants.  Right  and  left 
she  dealt  hearty  slaps,  with  her  open 
hand,  which  sent  the  little  crew  howl 
ing  away,  their  cheeks  smarting  with 
pain  and  burning  with  rage.  The 
whole  thing  was  the  work  of  a  mo 
ment.  Daph  took  Charlie  in  her 
arms,  clasped  the  trembling  hand  of 
Louise,  and  resumed  her  steady  walk 
as  calmly  as  if  nothing  had  occurred. 

There  was  much  to  attract  the  atten 
tion  of  the  strangers  in  the  new  scenes 
about  them,  but  Daph  kept  her  head 
straight  forward,  and  devoted  all  her 
attention  to  numbering  the  corners  she 
passed,  that  she  might  know  when  to 
begin  to  look  out  for  the  house  so 


59 


carefully  described  by  good  Captain 
Jones. 

Louise  soon  grew  weary  of  keeping 
pace  with  Daph's  long  strides,  and  the 
faithful  negro  lifted  the  little  girl  in 
her  arms,  and  went  patiently  on  with 
her  double  burden. 

A  weary,  weary  walk  it  seemed, 
even  to  the  strong-limbed  negro,  be 
fore  they  passed  the  last  corner,  ac 
cording  to  her  reckoning,  and  stood  in 
front  of  the  very  red  house  with  blue 
shutters  which  she  had  been  so  anxious 
to  see.  Much  as  she  had  longed  to 
reach  it,  its  appearance  did  not  fill 
Daph's  heart  with  joy.  A  sort  of 
dread  of  the  new  people  whom  she 
was  to  meet  stole  over  her,  but  she 


60  BABES   IX   THE   BASKET. 


resolved  to  put  a  bold  face  on  the 
matter,  and  in  this  mood  she  gave  a 
heavy  knock  at  the  blue  door.  Her 
imperative  summons  was  promptly 
answered. 

The  door  was  opened  by  a  little  girl, 
of  about  ten  years  of  age,  who  was 
covered,  from  her  slender  neck  to  her 
bare  feet,  with  a  long  checked  pina 
fore,  above  which  appeared  a  closely- 
cropped,  brown  head,  and  a  small, 
demure-looking  face.  The  child  stood 
perfectly  still,  gazing  in  quiet  wonder 
at  the  strangers,  and  waiting  to  hear 
their  business. 

.  Daph  had  to  set  the  children  down 
on  the  steps,  and  fumble  in  her  bosom 
for  the  captain's  precious  note.  She 


THE  RED  HOUSE,    ETC.  61 

drew  it  at  last  from  its  hiding-place, 
and  handed  it  triumphantly  to  the 
young  porteress,  saying,  "  Dis  is  what'll 
tell  you  who  we  are,  and  what  we 
wants."  The  little  girl  looked  at  the 
note  with  a  puzzled  expression,  and 
then  calmly  walked  away,  down  the 
narrow  hall,  without  saying  a  word. 
Daph  sat  down  on  the  door-step,  and 
took  the  children  on  her  lap,  with  a 
kind  of  faith  that  all  would  go  well, 
which  made  her  feel  quite  easy.  She 
was  making  the  children  laugh  at  a 
playful  pig,  that  was  running  up  and 
down  the  street,  when  angry  tones 
from  within  met  her  ear,  and  she 
caught  the  following  words  : 

Take  a  negro  for  a  lodger !   I  shall 


<;  r 


62  BABES  IN  THE  BASKET. 

do  no  such  thing !  Who  does  Captain 
Jones  think  I  am  !" 

"  Mother,"  said  a  calm  young  voice, 
11  you  know  we  shall  be  behind  with 
the  rent,  and  then,  the  children  are 
white  ;  one  of  them  is  the  whitest  child 
I  ever  saw." 

"  The  rent,  yes,  that  is  a  bad  busi 
ness.  Well,  I  suppose  I  must  come  to 
it !  What  one  does  have  to  put  up 
with  in  this  world  !  Show  the  woman 
in  !" 

Daph,  who  had  heard  the  whole 
conversation  quite  plainly,  rose  at  the 
last  words,  and  was  ready  to  accept 
the  invitation  to  walk  into  the  back 
room,  which  she  immediately  received. 

Daph  made  a  polite  courtesy  to  the 


THE   RED  HOUSE,    ETC.  63 


sour-looking  little  woman,  who  seemed 
hardly  strong  enough  to  have  spoken 
in  the  loud,  harsh  tones  which  had  just 
been  heard. 

"  So  Captain  Jones  sent  you  here  !" 
said  the  woman,  somewhat  tartly,  as 
she  eyed  the  odd-looking  party. 

Daph  had  taken  off  the  shawl  from 
Louise,  and  set  Charlie  on  his  feet, 
that  the  children  might  appear  to  the 
best  advantage  ;  she  stood  proudly 
between  them,  as  she  said,  "I  wants 
to  hire  a  room  for  my  missus's  child 
ren.  We's  been  'bliged  to  come  north 
this  summer,  and  will  have  to  look  out 
a  bit  for  ourselves,  as  massa  could'nt 
come  wid  us." 

"  Daphne/7  said  the  woman,  sweet- 


61  BABES  IN  THE   BASKET. 


ening  a  little,  :i  Captain  Jones  says  that 
is  your  name,  and  that  you  are  an 
honest  industrious  woman  ?  Do  you 
think  you  will  be  able  to  pay  the  rent, 
regularly  ?" 

"  I  has  a  right  to  my  name,"  said 
Daph,  straightening  up  her  stout  figure. 
"  Missus  had  it  gib  to  me,  like  any 
white  folks,  when  she  had  me  baptised. 
I.  isn't  particler  about  having  all  of  it, 
so  most  folks  calls  me  Daph.  Is  I 
honest?  Look  me  in-  de  eye,  and 
answer  dat  yeself.  Is  I  industri 
ous  ?  Look  at  dat  arm,  and  dese 
ere  fingers  ;  do  dey  look  like  if  I  was 
lazy  ?" 

The    clear  eye,  muscular  arm,  and 
hard  work-worn  hand  were  indeed  the 


THE   RED   HOUSE,    ETC.  65 

n 

best  assurances  the  doubtful  questioner 
could  have  received. 

"  As  to  de  rent,"  added  Daph,  "  my 
missus'  children  isn't  widout  money."  As 
she  spoke,  she  gave  her  pocket  a  hearty 
shake,  which  produced  a  significant 
chinking,  that  seemed  quite  satisfactory. 

"You  are  a  queer  one!"  said  the 
woman,  "  but  you  may  as  well  look  at 
the  room.  It's  right  there  in  front  ; 
you  passed  it  as  you  came  in." 

Daph  stepped  to  the  door  of  the 
front  room,  pushed  it  open,  and  looked 
around  her,  with  her  head  thrown  a 
little  on  one  side,  as  if  that  position 
were  favorable  to  forming  a  correct 
judgment  as  to  its  merits. 

"  Well,  it  do  be  radder  small,"  she 


66  BABES   IN  THE   BASKET. 

said,  after  a  few  moment's  dignified 
consideration,  "  but  den  it  be  proper 
clean,  and  two  winder  to  de  street,  for 
de  childen.  Haven't  ye  got  anything 
to  put  in  it  ;  no  chair,  nor  table,  nor 
such  like  ?" 

"  You  will  have  to  furnish  for  your 
self,"  said  the  woman,  "  but  you  shall 
have  the  room  on  reasonable  terms." 

The  bargain  was  soon  made,  but 
whether  on  reasonable  terms  or  not, 
Daph  had  but  little  idea,  though  she 
prudently  concealed  her  ignorance. 

Once  in  her  own  domain,  Daph  sat 
down  on  the  floor,  and  giving  each  of 
the  children  a  huge  sea-biscuit,  she 
took  them  in  her  arms,  and  began  to 
wave  to  and  fro,  singing  one  of  the 


THE  EED   HOUSE,    ETC.  67 


wild  negro  melodies,  which  spring  up 
wherever  the  African  race  take  root. 

The  weary  children  were  soon  in  a 
sound  sleep,  and  then  Daph  laid  them 
carefully  down  on  the  clean  floor, 
covered  them  with  the  shawls  she  had 
found  so  useful,  and  then  sat  stock-still 
beside  them,  for  a  few  moments,  lost 
in  deep  thought.  After  a  while,  she 
took  from  her  pocket  the  purse  the 
captain  had  given  her,  and  her  own 
store  of  small  change,  wrapped  in  its 
bit  of  rag.  The  latter  she  laid  aside, 
saying,  "  That  mus  do  for  eat.  Dat 
Daph's  own.  Now  dis,  Daph  jus  borry 
from  de  cap'in.  Massa's  children  don't 
have  to  come  to  livin  on  other  people 
when  Daph's  on  her  feet.  Cap'in 


68  BABES  IN  THE   BASKET. 


Jones  got  he  money's  worth  in  that 
beauty  gold  chain  I  puts  in  his  hand, 
and  he  not  know  it." 

Here  Daph  gave  a  real  negro  chuckle, 
at  the  thought  of  the  artifice,  which 
had  made  her  feel  at  liberty  to  use  the 
money  so  kindly  given  her,  without 
accepting  chanty,  from  which  she  re 
volted,  as  well  for  herself  as  for  her 
master's  children. 

"  Now  Daph  must  be  gittin  dis  place 
in  order  quick,  or  de  childen  will  be 
wakin  up,"  said  Daph,  as  she  rose 
hastily  with  the  air  of  one  prepared 
for  action.  She  carefully  closed  the 
shutters,  locked  the  door  behind  her, 
and  putting  the  key  in  her  pocket,  set 
off  to  make  her  purchases. 


y. 


DAPH  had  observed  a  small  cabinet 
maker's  shop,  not  far  from  her  new 
home,  and  to  it  she  easily  made  her 
way.  The  sight  of  two  little  wooden 
chairs,  painted  with  the  usual  variety 
of  wonderfully  bright  colors,  attracted 
her  attention,  and  suggested  her  plan 
of  operations. 

"  It's  for  de  childen  I'se  buying," 
she  said,  "and  what's  de  use  ob  paying 
a  big  price  for  grown  up  things.  I  just 
wants  two  chairs  and  a  few  tings  to 

(63) 


70  BABES   IN   THE   BASKET. 


match  for  de  dears/7  While  Daph  was 
thus  soliloquising,  the  shopman  came 
forward,  and  she  promptly  addressed 
him  as  follows,  "  Tse  jus  come,  sar,  to 
buy  de  fixin  ob  a  leetle  room  for  my 
massa's  childen,  General  Louis  La 
Tourette. 

Daph  mentioned  her  master's  name 
with  a  pompous  air,  and  with  great 
distinctness,  which  had  their  effect  on 
the  humble  cabinet-maker.  He  moved 
about  briskly,  and  Daph  soon  had  dis 
played  before  her  all  the  small  articles 
of  furniture  he  had  on  hand. 

The  bright  yellow  chairs,  adorned 
with  the  wonderful  roses  and  tulips, 
were  first  set  aside  ;  then  followed  a 
little  table,  painted  in  the  same  fanciful 


DAPH'S  SHOPPING.  71 

manner,  and  lastly,  a  good-sized  trun 
dle  bed,  of  a  somewhat  less  gaudy 
appearance. 

11  Fse  in  a  most  pertickler  hurry,  jus 
now/'  said  Daph  ;  "  would  you  jus  hab 
de  kindness  to  get  for  de  bed  jus  what 
will  make  it  look  neat  and  comfable  ; 
not  too  nice  for  childen  to  play  on, 
while  I  steps  out  for  a  few  notions  as 
Fse  'bliged  to  git." 

The  shopkeeper  kindly  complied, 
while  Daph  went  on  her  way  delighted 
at  being  thus  able  to  have  what  the 
children  would  need  for  comfort,  a 
matter  about  which  she  felt  herself 
quite  ignorant  in  this  new  climate. 

Daph's  next  stop  was  at  a  tinman's. 
Two  wash-basins,  such  as  she  had  seen 


72  BABES   IX  THE   BASKET. 


on  board  ship,  three  shining  tin  cups, 
three  pewter  plates  and  spoons,  one 
strong  knife  and  a  capacious  saucepan, 
completed  the  purchases  which  she 
promptly  made.  Drawing  a  gold  piece 
from  the  captain's  purse,  she  laid  it 
calmly  down  on  the  counter,  then 
gathered  up  the  various  articles  se 
lected.  The  tinker  eyed  her  a  little 
suspiciously,  but  there  was  no  look  of 
shame  or  guilt  in  her  frank  and  honest 
face.  He  concluded  she  was  a  servant, 
sent  out  by  her  mistress,  and  carefully 
gave  her  the  right  change,  which 
seemed,  in  Daplrs  eyes,  to  double  her 
possessions.  When  she  returned  to 
the  cabinet-maker's,  she  found  the 
trundle-bed  neatly  fitted  out,  while  a 


DAPH'S  SHOPPING.  73 


lad  with  a  wheelbarrow  was  ready  to 
take  home  the  furniture.  She  added 
to  her  purchases  a  plain  wooden  bench, 
and  then  said,  composedly,  "  I  don't 
know  de  valer  ob  such  like  tings,  but 
General  Louis  La  Tourette,  my  massa, 
does,  and  you  must  deal  right  and 
honest.'7  As  she  spoke,  she  laid  down 
two  of  her  precious  gold  pieces,  then 
gathered  up  the  small  change  returned 
to  her,  not  without  some  misgivings  as 
to  the  accuracy  of  the  shopman. 

When  Daph  reached  home,  she  found 
the  children  still  sleeping  soundly,  and 
she  was  able  to  get  the  little  room  in 
order  to  her  satisfaction  before  they 
were  fairly  awake. 

She  turned  up  the  trundle-bed  on  end, 


74  BABES  IN  THE   BASKET. 


and  threw  over  it  as  a  curtain  the  pure 
white  spread  the  shopman  had  provi 
ded.  The  deep  recess  on  one  side  of 
the  chimney,  thus  shut  in,  Daph  in 
tended  to  consider  as  her  private  re 
sort,  and  in  the  small  cupboard  in  the 
wall,  she  laid  out  the  children's  clothes 
with  scrupulous  care.  This  done,  she 
set  out  the  little  table  with  the  new 
cups  and  plates,  and  drew  the  chairs 
near  it,  while  the  remaining  tin  trea 
sures  were  ranged  along  the  wash- 
bench  in  the  most  attractive  manner. 

It  was  well  for  Louise  and  Charlie 
that  they  had  been  much  accustomed 
to  being  away  from  their  mother,  or 
they  might  have  been  poorly  prepared 
for  their  present  lot. 


DAPH'S  SHOPPING.  75 

General  La  Tourette  had  married  a 
young  American  girl,  who  was  then 
living  on  an  island  near  that  on  which 
his  plantation  was  situated.  Shortly 
after  this  marriage,  the  husband  receiv 
ed  a  dangerous  wound  in  his  side, 
which  unfitted  him  for  active  duty,  and 
he  resolved  to  settle  down  on  his  own 
plantation,  which  had  for  a  long  time 
been  under  the  care  of  a  most  injudici 
ous  overseer. 

Daph  accompanied  her  mistress  to 
her  new  home,  and  tried  her  utmost 
skill  in  cookery  to  tempt  her  master's 
now  delicate  appetite.  Even  her 
powers  were  at  last  at  fault,  and 
General  La  Tourette  could  not  taste 
the  tempting  morsels  which  the  faith- 


76  BABES  IN  THE   BASKET. 


ful  creature  loved  always  to  prepare 
for  him. 

Frequent  change  of  air  was  now 
prescribed  for  the  invalid,  and  the  fond 
mother  was  almost  constantly  separated 
from  the  children  she  so  tenderly  loved  ; 
yet  her  sweet,  devoted,  Christian  charac 
ter  had  already  made  its  impression  on 
the  little  Louise. 

Thus  situated,  the  children  had 
learned  to  be  happy  for  the  present 
hour,  with  any  one  who  happened  to 
have  the  charge  of  them.  General  La 
Tourette,  though  a  native  of  France, 
spoke  English  in  his  family,  and  to 
that  language  his  little  ones  were  ac 
customed.  They  took  no  fancy  to  the 
cross  French  nurse  who  had  latterly 


DAPH'S  SHOPPING.  77 

had  the  charge  of  them,  and  much 
preferred  Daph,  whose  English  was 
pleasant  to  their  ears.  They  loved  to 
linger  at  the  door  of  her  southern 
kitchen,  or  play  under  the  wide- 
spreading  tree  that  waved  over  its 
roof. 

Daph  returned  their  affection  with 
all  the  strength  of  her  warm  heart, 
and  Mrs.  La  Tourette  felt  sure  that  in 
her  absence,  Daph  would  watch  over 
both  children  and  nurse  with  an  eagle- 
eye. 

With  more  of  the  dove  than  the 
eagle  in  her  expression,  Daph  now  sat 
beside  the  little  ones  in  their  new 
home,  so  far  from  the  land  of  their 
birth. 


78  BABES   IN   THE   BASKET. 


Not  long  after  her  preparations  were 
completed,  Daph  had  the  satisfaction 
of  seeing  the  children  awake,  refreshed 
by  their  long  sleep,  and  full  of  eager 
delight  at  the  wonders  achieved  by 
their  new  nurse.  She  listened  with 
hearty  satisfaction  to  their  exclama 
tions  of  surprise  and  pleasure  at  the 
shining  tin  and  gayly  painted  chairs. 

Daph  was  just  wondering  what  was 
to  fill  plates  and  cups  that  looked  so 
attractive,  when  a  bell  was  rung  im 
peratively,  in  the  street,  before  the 
house.  From  all  sides  women  and 
girls  gathered  round  the  bell-ringer's 
cart,  and  from  his  great  cans  he  filled 
their  vessels  with  milk,  which  was  at 
this  moment  most  refreshing  to  the 


79 


eyes  of  Daph.  She  seized  her  new 
saucepan,  and  sallying  out,  presented 
it  to  the  milkman,  and  received  her 
supply.  She  watched  carefully  the 
bits  of  money  given  by  other  applicants 
and  was  fortunate  enough  to  select, 
from  the  change  she  had  that  day  re 
ceived,  the  right  payment  for  the  milk. 

In  a  few  moments,  the  children 
were  seated  at  the  little  table,  and  enjoy 
ing  their  nice  supper  of  crackers  and 
milk,  in  a  way  that  made  Daph's  eyes 
sparkle  with  delight. 

"  Daffy  eat  too  !"  said  Charlie,  mo 
tioning  to  her  to  put  the  spoon  in  her 
mouth,  instead  of  his  own.  "  Yes, 
Daffy,"  said  Louise,  "  do  take  some 
supper." 


80  BABES   IN   THE   BASKET. 

Daph  had  hardly  thought  once  of 
herself  during  the  whole  of  this  busy 
afternoon,  but  when  the  children  had 
finished  their  meal,  she  filled  her  cup 
with  the  fare  they  had  enjoyed,  and 
ate  it  with  no  less  satisfaction. 

"  Daph  knew  de  great  Lord  would 
take  care  of  us  P7  she  murmured,  as 
she  looked  round  on  the  room  that 
seemed  to  her  so  comfortable,  and 
true,  fervent  gratitude,  undisturbed 
by  one  fear  for  the  future,  filled  the 
heart  of  the  faithful  negro. 


VI. 


ALAS  for  Daph  !  She  was  soon  to 
find  life  was  not  all  sunshine  in  her 
northern  home.  The  lovely  May  wea 
ther,  which  had  been  like  a  pleasant 
welcome  to  the  strangers,  suddenly 
vanished,  and  was  succeeded  by  dark 
clouds,  pouring  rain,  and  keen  easterly 
winds.  Daph  was  glad  to  keep  the 

children  wrapped  in  the  bed-clothes, 

• 
while  she  racked  her  ingenuity  to  find 

means  of  amusing  them.     Charlie  took 
a  wash-basin  for  a  drum,  and  the  pew- 

4*  (81) 


82  BABES   IN  THE   BASKET. 


ter  spoon  with  which  he  beat  it  was  a 
constant  and  patient  sufferer.  Louise 
was  not  so  easily  pleased  ;  she  began 
to  miss  her  mother  sorely,  and  tried 
poor  Daph,  by  pleading  piteously  to 
see  her  "own  dear  mamma." 

Daph  had  tried  to  banish  from  her 
mind  all  thoughts  of  her  master  and 
mistress,  for  the  bare  imagination  of 
what  they  might  have  suffered  made 
her  wild  with  distress.  She  said  to 
herself,  "  What  for  Daph  go  to  tink 
about  tings,  jus  as  likely  nebber 
was  at  all !  Daph  makes  out  de 
great  Lord  could  n't  save  massa  and 
Miss  Eiize  all  hisself,  widout  Daph  to 
help  him  !  Foolish  darky  !  She  bet 
ter  cheer  up,  and  take  care  ob  de 


CLOUDS.  83 


childen,  'stead  o'  jus  whimper,  whim 
per,  like  a  sick  monkey." 

Daph  had  to  go  through  a  course  of 
consolation,  similar  to  the  above,  very 
frequently,  to  enable  her  to  maintain 
her  cheerfulness  ;  but  the  piteous 
questionings  of  the  little  Louise  well- 
nigh  overcame  all  the  poor  negro's 
philosophy. 

"  I'se  tell  you  what  it  is,  Miss  Lou," 
poor  Daph  said,  desperately,  at  last, 
"  I'se  jus  tell  you  what  it  is  ;  de  great 
Lord  is  a-takin  care  ob  your  mamma, 
and  if  you's  a  good  girl,  you'll  jus  see 
her  some  day,  and  if  you  is  not,  de 
great  Lord  will  nebber,  nebber  bring 
you  together  ?" 

Daph's  manner,  as  well  as  her  words, 


84:  BABES  IN  THE   BASKET. 

had  some  effect  upon  Louise,  and  she 
tried  to  content  herself  with,  watching 
the  rain  streaming  down  the  window- 
panes,  and  was  soon  in  a  sufficiently 
cheerful  mood  to  march  up  and  down 
the  room,  to  the  sound  of  Charlie's 
music,  greatly  to  his  satisfaction. 

The  dreary  weather  without  was  not 
all  that  Daph  had  to  contend  with  ;  she 
found  she  had  an  enemy  within  the 
house,  whose  attacks  it  was  far  more 
difficult  to  meet. 

The  little  woman,  whose  angry  voice 
had  attracted  Daph's  attention  at  first, 
kept  her  humble  lodger  familiar  with 
its  harsh  tones.  Daph's  appearance 
was  the  signal  for  a  volley  of  com 
plaints,  as  to  the  noise  made  by  the 


CLOUDS.  85 


children,  the  marks  left  on  the  floor  by 
Daph's  feet,  as  she  returned  from  the 
well,  the  unpleasantness  of  "seeing 
other  folks  so  much  at  home  in  one's 
own  house,"  etc.,  etc. 

Daph  never  had  a  chance  to  get  any 
further  than,  "  deed,  Miss  Ray!'7  in 
her  attempts  at  self-justification,  for 
the  opening  of  her  mouth  was  sure  to 
produce  another  tirade  on  the  "impu 
dence  of  certain  people,  that  nobody 
knew  anything  about." 

The  demure-looking  little  girl  was 
generally  a  silent  spectator  of  these 
attacks,  but  now  and  then  she  was 
forced  to  cry  out,  "  0,  mother!  don't !" 
which  protest  was  generally  met  by  a 
sharp  box  of  the  ear,  and  a  "take 


86  BABES   IX   THE   BASKET. 


that,  Mary,  and  learn  to  be  quiet !" 
If  Mary  Ray  had  learned  any  lesson, 
it  certainly  was  to  be  quiet.  She 
rarely  spoke,  and  her  footsteps  were 
almost  as  noiseless  as  the  fall  of  the 
winter  snow. 

I)aph  soon  found  out  that  Mrs.  Ray 
considered  Mary  especially  guilty,  in 
having  presumed  to  live,  when  her 
brother,  a  fine  healthy  boy,  had  been 
snatched  away  by  sudden  disease. 

The  loss  of  her  husband,  and  conse 
quent  poverty,  had  somewhat  soured 
Mrs.  Ray's  temper,  but  her  last  bereave 
ment  seemed  to  have  made  her  all  acid 
ity.  She  constantly  reproached  Mary 
for  being  a  useless  girl,  always  in  her 
mother's  sight,  when  the  dear  boy,  on 


CLOUDS.  87 


whom  she  had  hoped  to  lean,  had  been 
taken  from  her. 

Daph's  keen  sympathies  were  soon 
warmly  enlisted  for  little  Mary,  who 
had  really  begun  to  believe  she  was 
quite  in  fault  for  continuing  to  cumber 
the  earth,  when  nobody  wanted  her 
here. 

Daph  never  passed  Mary  without  a 
cheerful  word,  and  she  contrived  to 
show  the  child  many  trifling  acts  of 
kindness,  which  went  directly  to  her 
heart. 

At  one  time  Daph,  with  her  strong 
arm,  lifted  Mary's  heavy  pail  of  water, 
at  another,  she  took  her  pitcher  to  the 
milkman  in  a  pouring  rain  ;  and  one 
day,  when  she  could  think  of  no  other 


88  BABES   IN   THE   BASKET. 


way  of  showing  her  interest,  she  sec 
retly  bestowed  on  the  little  girl  one  of 
the  few  oranges  which  still  remained  of 
the  store  brought  from  the  ship. 

Mary's  sorrowful  face,  Mrs.  Ray's 
harsh  voice,  the  penetrating  chill  in 
the  air,  and  the  monotonous  life  she 
led  in  the  single  room,  made  it  hard 
for  Daph  to  bear  up  cheerfully,  and., 
but  for  the  children,  she  would  have 
withdrawn  to  a  corner,  and  moped  all 
the  time.  She  managed  to  keep  up 
her  spirits  during  the  day,  but  when 
the  little  ones  were  asleep,  she  had  her 
own  sad,  wakeful  hours.  More  than  a 
week  had  passed  in  this  dreary  way. 
Daph  saw  her  treasured  store  of  money 
fast  diminishing,  under  the  necessary 


CLOUDS. 


expenditure  for  supplying  the  simple 
wants  of  her  little  establishment,  and 
she  already  saw,  too  plainly,  that  the 
whole  party  must  soon  have  a  new 
outfit  of  clothing,  or  they  would  be 
disgraced  by  their  rags  and  unclean- 
liness. 

The  children  were  quietly  slumber 
ing  near  her ;  she  had  extinguished 
the  candle,  that  it  might  not  waste  its 
feeble  light,  and,  with  her  head  on  her 
hand,  she  began  to  consider  seriously 
the  situation  in  which  she  found  her 
self.  The  present  was  dark  enough, 
but  what  was  she  to  think  of  the 
gloomy  future ! 

Where  should  she  look  for  the  work 
she  would  so  willingly  do  ?  How  could 


90  BABES   IN   THE   BASKET. 

she  leave  her  little  charge,  even  if  that 
work  were  found  ? 

'A  sense  of  utter  helplessness  came 
over  the  poor  negro,  and  hot  tears 
poured  down  her  cheeks. 

A  sudden  thought  struck  her  ;  there 
was  One  all-powerful,  and  to  Him  she 
would  go.  She  fell  on  her  knees,  and 
uttered  her  first  simple  prayer  :  "Will 
de  great  Lord  gib  poor  Daph  some 
thing  for  do?" 

Overpowered  by  the  effort  she  had 
made,  and  fearful  there  was  something 
presuming  in  a  poor  creature  like  her 
self  daring  to  speak  to  the  being  she 
so  reverenced,  Daph  sank  down  on  the 
floor,  in  a  position  of  silent  humility. 
A  conviction  that  she  had  been  heard 


CLOUDS.  91 


and  forgiven  for  the  boldness  of  her 
prayer  stole  over  her,  and  she  stretched 
herself  as  usual  on  the  bare  floor,  and 
was  soon  in  a  sound  sleep. 


VII. 


DAPH  rose  the  following  morning, 
at  her  usual  early  hour,  and  went  to 
perform  her  customary  ablutions  beside 
the  well,  keeping,  however,  a  sharp 
look  out  for  Mrs.  Ray,  to  be  ready  to 
beat  a  retreat  as  soon  as  that  formida 
ble  person  should  make  herself  heard. 
No  Mrs.  Ray  appeared,  and  Daph's 
curiosity  tempted  her  to  take  a  peep 
into  the  room  which  served  as  kitchen, 
parlor,  and  general  abiding-place  for 

.(92) 


A   NEW   PATH.  93 

Mrs.  Ray  and  Mary,  though  they  slept 
in  the  loft  above. 

Mary  was  diligently  ironing,  at  this 
early  hour,  giving  from  time  to  time, 
dolorous  glances  at  a  great  basketful 
of  damp  clothes,  which  seemed  to 
diminish  but  slowly  under  her  efforts. 

"  Where's  your  ma  ?"  said  Daph,  as 
she  thrust  her  head  fairly  in  at  the 
door,  regardless  of  consequences. 

"  Mother's  very  sick  this  morning," 
said  Mary,  sorrowfully,  "  she  can't 
even  turn  herself  in  bed,  and  all  these 
clothes  must  go  home  to-night,  we 
have  had  to  keep  them  too  long  now,  it 
has  been  so  wet." 

"  Nebber  fret  bout  de  close,"  said 
Daph,  cheerily  ;  "  1'se  held  a  flat  'fore 


BABES  IN  THE  BASKET. 


dis  !  Do  Daph  good  to  work  a  little, 
she  mighty  tired,  sittin  up  all  day  like 
a  lady.  Spose  I  jus  steps  up  to  look 
at  your  rna.  May  be  I  might  do  some 
what  for  her,  to  make  her  feel  some 
better.'7 

"  0,  don't !"  exclaimed  Mary,  hastily, 
"  she  might  not  like  it." 

"  Nebber  you  mind  dat !"  said  Daph, 
"  you  jus  show  me  de  way." 

Mary  pointed  to  the  door  that  led  to 
the  narrow  staircase,  and  Daph  needed 
no  further  guidance. 

11  Ye's  mighty  sick,  is  n't  ye,  Miss' 
Ray  ?"  said  Daph,  compassionately,  as 
she  stepped  to  the  bedside  of  the  suf 
ferer. 

Mrs.  Ray  turned   her  head  to   the 


A  NEW  PATH.  95 


wall  and  groaned,  but  Daph  was  not 
to  be  easily  disconcerted. 

"  Spose  I  jus  makes  you  a  little 
warm  drink,  and  kinder  helps  you  to 
frow  off  dis  ere  sickness  ?"  said  Daph, 
insinuatingly. 

"  0,  my  back  !  my  bones  !  they  ache 
so  !"  said  the  poor  woman. 

"  It's  jus  bein  out  in  dis  wet  wedder, 
jus  a-comin  from  dat  awful  hot  fire 
into  de  swash  down  rain,"  said  Daph. 
"  White  folks  is  n't  used  to  such  hard 
work.  You  jus  can't  bear  it,  dats 
it." 

Daph  had  struck  the  right  cord,  and 
Mrs.  Ray  answered,  "  No  ;  I  aint  used 
to  it.  That's  true  enough,  but  who 
have  I  got  to  help  me,  but  just  that 


96  BABES   IN   THE   BASKET. 


slip  of  a  girl.     0,  if  my  boy  had  only 
lived !" 

Daph  did  not  wait  to  hear  more  of 
the  complaints,  which  were  the  burden 
of  Mrs.  Ray's  daily  talk.  She  hastened 
to  the  kitchen,  and  with  Mary's  help, 
she  soon  prepared  a  steaming  bowl  of 
of  herb-tea,  which  Mrs.  Ray  took  from 
her  hand  without  a  word.  She  would 
have  resisted,  when  Daph  proceeded  to 
bathe  her  feet  in  warm  water,  but  the 
kind-hearted  negro  went  steadily  on, 
regardless  of  opposition,  saying,  "  You's 
so  very  sick,  we's  mus  jus  take  care  of 
you,  same  as  if  you  were  a  bit  of  a 
baby.  There  now,  let  me  jus  put  de 
cubber  over  you,"  she  said,  as  she  re 
leased  the  restive  feet.  "  Now,  if  you 


A  NEW   PATH.  97 

could  jus  git  a  little  sleep,  while  I  go 
dress  de  babies,  I'se  do  believe  you 
would  feel  mighty  better." 

Mrs.  Ray  did  fall  into  a  quiet  sleep, 
the  more  sound  from  the  night  of 
wakefulness  and  pain  she  had  just 
passed.  When  she  awoke,  she  heard 
unusual  sounds  in  the  kitchen  below, 
and  if  she  could  have  peeped  down  the 
stair-way,  a  pleasant  scene  would  have 
met  her  eyes.  A  cheerful  fire  roared 
up  the  wide  chimney.  Daph,  revived 
by  the  welcome  heat,  was  ironing  away 
at  the  great  table,  with  real  heartiness, 
while  little  Mary,  at  her  side,  tried  to 
move  her  slender  arms  in  the  same 
energetic  manner.  Charlie  was  seated 

on   the   table,   a   happy   spectator   of 
5 


98  BABES   IN  THE   BASKET. 


these  proceedings,  while  Louise  stood 
by  him,  sprinkling  and  folding  a  bit  of 
rag  again  and  again,  not  doubting  that 
she  was  amazingly  useful. 

"Mary!  Mary!"  said  a  voice  from 
above,  feebler  and  a  little  less  sharp 
than  usual.  "  who's  down  there  with 
you  ?" 

11  It's  jus  me  and  de  childen.  Miss' 
Ray,  said  Daph,  putting  her  head  fear 
lessly  up  the  stair- way.  "Dat  big 
basket  o'  clothes  wants  'tention,  and 
I'se  jus  thought  I'se  better  be  ironin  a 
bit,  to  git  de  tings  out  de  way." 

Mrs.  Ray  made  no  answer,  and 
Daph,  after  satisfying  herself  that  the 
patient  was  a  little  better,  stepped 
quietly  back  into  the  kitchen. 


A  NEW  PATH.  99 

Daph  really  enjoyed  her  busy  day, 
and  it  was  followed  by  sound  natural 
sleep,  instead  of  hours  of  wakefulness 
and  anxious  thought. 

It  was  more  than  a  week  before 
'Mrs.  Ray  recovered  from  the  violent 
cold  which  had  so  suddenly  removed 
her  from  the  scene  of  operations  ; 
meanwhile  Daph  and  Mary  had  be 
come  excellent  friends.  The  little  girl 
exchanged  her  hard  work  for  the  plea 
sant  care  of  the  children,  and  Daph's 
strong  arms  had  the  exercise  they 
needed.  Daph's  busy  brain  had  not 
meanwhile  been  idle  ;  the  sight  of  the 
great  oven  in  the  wide  chimney-corner 
had  suggested  to  her  a  plan,  which  she 
was  impatient  to  carry  out. 


100  BABES  IN  THE   BASKET. 

"When  Mrs.  Ray  first  appeared  in  the 
kitchen,  she  gave  an  anxious  look 
about  her,  as  if  she  expected  to  see 
nothing  but  disorder  and  dirt  ;  but  the 
well-scoured  floor  and  shining  plates 
on  the  dresser  had  another  tale  to  tell. 
Of  Daph's  skill  in  cookery,  she  had 
tasted  several  striking  specimens,  since 
her  appetite  had  in  a  measure  re 
turned,  and  she  looked  on  somewhat 
curiously,  as  Daph  busied  herself 
about  the  fire,  preparing  what  she 
called,  "  Just  a  bit  relish,  to  strengthen 
up  Miss'  Ray,  now  she's  on  her  two 
feet  again." 

"  Mary  was  with  the  children,  and 
Mrs,  Ray  took  the  opportunity  to  say, 
"  You  have  been  very  good  to  me, 


A  NEW   PATH.  101 


Daph,  and  I  am  sure  you  had  no  rea 
son  ;"  and  tears  of  shame  actually 
came  into  the  poor  woman's  eyes. 

"  Now  don't,  Miss'  Ray  !"  said  Daph, 
"  I'se  isn't  been  and  done  anything  at 
all.  Come,  take  a  little  breakfast,  and 
ye'll  feel  better,  I'm  sure." 

"  What  can  I  do  for  you,  Daph?" 
continued  Mrs.  Ray,  who  had  been 
really  touched  by  the  persevering  kind 
ness  of  the  honest  negro. 

"  Well  now,  Miss'  Ray,"  said  Daph, 
"  I  wants  to  make  a  little  money.  I 
jus  thinks  I  might  do  de  ironin  for 
you  ebery  week,  for  you  can't  stand 
such  hard  work,  and  then,  may  be 
you'd  jus  let  me  hab  de  use  ob  dat 
beauty  oven,  for  somewhat  I  wants  to 


102  BABES  IN  THE   BASKET. 

do.  I'se  jus  used  to  cookin,  and  may 
be,  if  I  makes  some  ob  de  cakes  missus 
used  to  like  so  much,  I  might  sell  dem, 
at  some  ob  de  grand  houses,  and  so 
make  a  pretty  sum,  by-and-bye." 

This  arrangement  was  easily  made, 
for  Mrs.  Ray  felt  within  her  but  little 
strength  for  work,  and  she  was  also 
anxious  to  shew  her  sense  of  Daph's 
late  kindness. 

One  bright  June  morning,  Daph  put 
herself  in  what  she  called  "  splinker 
order,"  and  the  children  shouted  with 
delight  when  her  toilet  was  made. 
With  the  help  of  Mrs.  Ray  and  Mary 
she  had  cut  out  and  completed  a  good 
calico  dress,  and  a  full  white  apron, 
and  these,  with  her  snowy  turban, 


A  NEW   PATH.  103 


made  a  most  respectable  appearance. 
A  new  basket,  covered  with  a  clean 
cloth,  was  on  her  head,  and  within  it 
was  stored  a  variety  of  nice  cakes, 
which  she  was  proud  to  show  as  a 
specimen  of  her  cookery. 

Mary  stood  at  the  window  with  the 
children,  as  Daph  went  off,  and  the 
little  ones  kissed  their  hands  to  her 
until  she  was  fairly  out  of  sight. 

Daph  had  learned  her  way  about 
the  city  with  ease,  for  she  had  quick 
observation,  and  a  ready  memory,  and 
she  now  found  no  difficulty  in  reaching 
what  she  called  the  "  grand  houses," 
which  were  ranged  in  imposing  rows, 
on  what  is  now  one  of  the  business 
streets. 


104  BABES  IN  THE   BASKET. 


At  door  after  door  she  tried  to  gain 
admittance,  but  the  consequential  ser 
vants  turned  her  off  with  a  contemptu 
ous  word,  and  her  heart  began  to  sink 
within  her.  At  last,  as  an  imperative 
footman  was  ordering  her  away  from 
a  great  family  mansion,  two  ladies 
passed  out,  to  enter  a  carriage.  Daph 
was  desperate.  She  dropped  a  curtsy 
and  said,  "  Ladies,  like  some  nice 
cakes  ?"  and  at  the  same  moment  she 
lowered  her  basket,  uncovered  it,  and 
displayed  its  tempting  array. 

The  frank,  good  face  of  the  negro, 
and  the  attractive  appearance  of  her 
wares,  secured  the  attention  of  the 
ladies,  and  they  purchased  largely. 
Encouraged  by  their  kindness,  Daph 


A   NEW   PATH.  105 

said,  "If  de  ladies  would  jus  speak 
for  Daph  to  some  ob  de  great  folks,  to 
buy  from  her  Tuesdays  and  Fridays, 
Daph  would  try  to  please  dem." 

11 1  like  the  woman,  mother,"  said 
Rose  Stuyvesant.  "  shall  we  engage 
her  to  come  here  always,  and  see  what 
we  can  do  for  her  ?" 

The  mother  assented,  and  Daph, 
turning  to  express  her  gratitude,  looked 
into  the  face  of  the  youngest  speak 
er. 

It  was  a  sweet  face  for  man  or  angel 
to  look  into.  Nature  had  made  it  fair, 
and  parted  the  golden  hair  above  the 
soft  blue  eyes  ;  but  there  was  a  sweet 
ness  round  the  expressive  mouth,  and 
a  purity  in  every  line  of  the  oval  face, 


106  BABES  IN  THE   BASKET. 


that  told  of  a  soul  at  peace  with  God, 
and  ruled  by  his  holy  law. 

Daph  long  remembered  that  face, 
and  as  she  visited  the  Stuyvesant  man 
sion,  week  after  week,  she  deemed 
that  a  bright  day  when  she  caught 
even  a  glimpse  of  her,  whom  she  called 
"  the  sweet  young  lady." 

Time  passed  on,  and  Daph  thrived 
in  her  little  traffic,  until  her  cakes  were 
well  known,  and  her  form  eagerly 
looked  for  in  many  a  splendid  home  ; 
but  the  best  triumphs  of  her  skill  she 
ever  reserved  for  the  Stuyvesant  man 
sion,  where  she  had  first  found  a  wel 
come. 


As  the  honest  efforts  of  poor  Daph 
were  crowned  with  success,  she  found 
herself  abundantly  able  to  provide  for 
the  physical  wants  of  her  master's 
children.  Three  years  of  toil  had 
rolled  quickly  away.  Charlie  had  pas 
sed  his  fourth  birth-day,  and  become  a 
strong-willed,  sturdy  boy,  while  the 
slender  figure  of  the  fair  Louise  had 
grown  and  rounded,  and  the  Rose  had 
learned  to  bloom  on  the  cheek  of  Cap 
tain  Jones's  "Water-lily." 

(107) 


108  BABES   IX   THE   BASKET. 


Daph  looked  at  her  little  ones  with 
affectionate  pride,  and  watched  over 
them  with  the  most  tender  care.  She 
encouraged  them  to  play  in  the  small 
garden  in  the  rear  of  their  humble 
home,  but  in  the  street  they  were 
never  seen.  The  garments  she  fashioned 
for  them  were  neat  and  tidy,  and  the 
snowy  aprons  they  always  wore,  were 
monuments  of  her  skill  as  a  laundress  ; 
but  she  was  conscious  of  a  something 
in  their  external  appearance,  which 
was  not  as  it  should  be.  About  the 
manners  of  her  charge,  Daph  was  still 
more  troubled.  "  Why  you  eat  so, 
Miss  Lou  ?"  she  would  sometimes  say. 
"How  shall  I  eat,  Daffy?"  the  child 
would  reply.  "  Well,  I  jus  don't 


NEWS.  109 


know,';  poor  Daph  would  answer, 
"  but  dere's  somewhat  bout  de  way 
you  childen  do  be,  at  de  table,  dat 
Daph  don't  jus  know  how  to  spress  it." 

More  serious  troubles  than  these  by 
degrees  came  upon  Daph,  in  her 
management.  Charlie,  though  an  af 
fectionate,  generous  child,  was  hot- 
tempered  and  wilful,  and  when  he  re 
sisted  Daph's  authority,  or  raised  his 
little  hand  to  give  an  angry  blow,  the 
poor  creature  knew  not  what  to  do. 
In  these  scenes  she  generally  triumph 
ed,  by  the  look  of  real  distress  which 
clouded  her  usually  pleasant  face,  and 
brought  Charlie,  repentant  to  her 
arms. 

With    Louise,    Daph    had    another 


110  BABES   IN   THE    BASKET. 


difficulty.  The  child  was  usually  gen 
tle  and  submissive,  but  she  seemed  to 
pine  for  other  companions,  and  a  home 
different  from  that  which  Daph  wras 
able  to  provide  for  her. 

The  early  lessons  of  piety  which 
Louise  had  learned  at  her  mother's 
knee,  had  faded  from  her  mind.  Daph 
could  remind  the  little  girl  to  say  her 
simple  prayer  at  morning  and  evening, 
but  she  could  not  talk  to  her  of  the 
loving  Saviour,  or  recount  the  wonders 
of  the  Gospel  she  had  never  read. 

The  little  book,  with  the  golden 
clasps,  Daph  had  cherished  with  the 
utmost  care.  She  knew  it  contained 
the  secret  which  could  bring  peace  and 
order  to  her  little  home,  but  its  trea- 


NEWS.  Ill 

sures  she,  in  her  ignorance,  could  not 
unlock. 

Once  she  had  ventured  to  ask  Mrs. 
Ray  to  read  a  little  to  her  from  it,  but 
she  met  with  a  short  negative,  and  a 
cold,  averted  look. 

Mary  was  almost  as  ignorant  of  let 
ters  as  Daph  herself.  So  the  poor 
negro  kept  the  precious  book  un 
opened,  and  awaited  God's  time  for 
leading  her  from  darkness  unto  light. 

That  the  children  of  her  dear  mis 
tress  would  be  allowed  to  grow  up, 
ignorant  of  the  knowledge  that  be 
longed  to  their  station,  and  strangers 
to  the  Bible  their  mother  had  loved, 
Daph  would  not  allow  herself  to  be 
lieve.  "It  will  come,  Tse  sure!" 


112  BABES  IN  THE   BASKET. 

Daph  would  say  to  herself ;  "  de  great 
Lord  can  make  it  right !"  and  thus  she 
stifled  her  anxious  forebodings,  and 
strove  to  do  the  duty  of  the  present 
hour. 

Mrs.  Ray's  temper  was  not  quite  as 
trying  as  when  Daph  first  made  her 
acquaintance.  The  kindness  of  the 
honest  negro,  and  her  cheerful  accept 
ance  of  the  trials  of  her  lot,  had  their 
influence  under  that  humble  roof,  and 
won  respect  and  affection,  even  from 
Mrs.  Ray.  The  sunshine  of  Charlie's 
happy,  roguish  face,  had  cheered  the 
lonely  widow,  and  Louise  had  exerted 
on  her  a  softening,  refining  influence. 
Mrs.  Ray  was  improved,  but  not  tho 
roughly  changed. 


NEWS.  113 


Little  Mary  had  many  harsh  words 
yet  to  hear,  but  time  had  abated  the 
poignancy  of  the  mother's  grief  for 
her  lost  darling,  and  made  her  some 
what  more  alive  to  the  virtues  of  her 
hard-working,  quiet,  little  girl. 

During  the  three  years  that  had  pas 
sed,  since  they  had  dwelt  under  the 
same  roof,  sickness,  at  various  times, 
had  made  the  little  household  seem 
like  one  family,  and  the  habit  of  help 
ing  each  other  had  daily  drawn  them 
nearer. 

Mary's  demure  face  was  lighted  up 
with  wonder  as  she  said  to  Daph,  one 
day,  "  There's  a  gentleman  at  the 
door,  asking  if  mother  still  lives  here, 
and  if  you  are  at  home." 


114  BABES  IN"  THE   BASKET. 

"  Is  it  a  tall,  tall  gentleman,  that 
looks  grand-like  and  magnificent  ?" 
said  Daph,  earnestly,  as  the  thought  of 
her  master  at  once  rose  to  her  mind. 

11  Not  exactly/'  said  Mary,  and,  as 
she  spoke,  Mrs.  Ray  opened  the  door, 
and  ushered  in  Captain  Jones. 

'Although  her  first  feeling  was  dis 
appointment,  Daph  shed  tears  of  joy 
as  she  clasped  the  hand  of  the  honest 
captain  ;  her  tears,  however,  brightened 
into  smiles  as  she  saw  the  approving 
look  the  captain  bestowed  on  her  pets, 
as  he  caught  them  in  his  arms. 

Charlie  struggled  and  fought  to  be 
free,  shouting,  "  I  like  you,  sir,  but 
you  need  not  squeeze  me  so,  and  rub 
me  with  your  rough  whiskers." 


NEWS.  115 

Charlie  got  another  hug  for  an  an 
swer,  while  Louise  said,  "Who  is  it, 
Daph  ?  It  cannot  be  my  father  !" 

11  No !  no  !  darling  !"  said  the  cap 
tain,  quickly,  and  he  dashed  the  tears 
from  his  eyes,  and  was  sobered  in  an 
instant. 

Mrs.  Ray  looked  on  with  astonish 
ment  and  curiosity,  at  the  cordial 
meeting  between  her  old  acquaintance 
and  her  lodgers. 

Captain  Jones  had  known  Mrs.  Ray 
slightly  in  her  better  days,  and  he  now 
turned  to  her,  and  inquired  kindly 
after  her  welfare.  As  usual,  she  had 
a  series  of  grievances  to  relate,  but 
she  forbore  speaking  slightingly  of 
Mary,  who  had  modestly  retired  into 


116  BABES   IN   THE   BASKET. 

the  background.  The  little  girl  was 
somewhat  astonished  when  the  captain 
came  towards  her,  and  gave  her  a 
hearty  greeting,  as  the  child  of  his  old 
mess-mate,  and  seemed  to  think  her 
well  worth  speaking  to,  though  "  only 
a  girl." 

The  whole  party  sat  down  together, 
and  time  passed  rapidly  on,  while  the 
captain  sat,  with  the  children  in  his 
arms,  and  heard  Daph's  account  of  her 
various  trials  and  adventures  since  they 
parted.  Mrs.  Ray  listened  with  eager 
curiosity,  but  she  could  gather  little 
from  Daph's  words  that  she  did  not 
already  know. 

At  length,  Captain  Jones  said,  with 
a  great  effort,  "  Daph,  I  have  some- 


NEWS.  117 


thing  to  say  to  you,  which  is  not  fit  for 
the  children's  ears,77  and  he  gave  at 
the  same  time  an  expressive  glance  to 
wards  Mrs.  Ray. 

The  widow  seized  Mary  by  the  hand, 
and  flounced  indignantly  out  of  the 
room,  saying,  "  I  am  sure  we  have  too 
much  to  do  to  stay  here,  where  we  are 
not  wanted.  No  good  comes  of  secrets, 
that  ever  I  heard  of!" 

"  Come  children,  come  with  Marj%" 
said  the  girl,  apparently  unconscious 
of  her  mother's  indignant  manner. 

The  children  followed  somewhat  re 
luctantly,  and  Daph  and  the  captain 
were  left  alone  together.  Since  the 
moment  of  her  landing,  Daph  had  had 
no  one  to  whom  she  might  speak  of 


118  BABES   IN   THE   BASKET. 


the  dark  fears  for  her  master  and  mis 
tress,  that  at  times  preyed  upon  her  j 
to  her  own  strange  departure  she  had 
never  alluded.  She  had  met  question 
ings  with  dignified  silence,  and  had 
patiently  endured  insinuations,  which, 
but  for  her  clear  conscience,  would 
have  driven  her  to  frenzy.  Now,  she 
felt  that  she  was  to  hear  some  import 
ant  news,  and  her  trembling  knees 
^fused  to  support  her.  Anxious  and 
agitated,  she  sank  on  her  low  bench, 
and  fixed  her  eyes  eagerly  on  the  cap 
tain. 

"  Daph,"  he  began,  "  there  was 
horrible  truth  in  your  words  that 
night,  when  ,you  pleaded  so  earnestly 
on  board  the  Martha  Jane  !  I  thank 


NEWS.  119 

G-od  that  I  did  not  turn  a  deaf  ear  to 
you  then  !  Daph,  you  have  saved 
}^our  master's  children  from  a  bloody 
death,  and  you  will  he  rewarded,  as 
there  is  a  Father  in  Heaven  !" 

The  captain  paused,  and  Daph  bent 
anxiously  forward,  exclaiming,  "  My 
dear  missus  ?  master  ?" 

Captain  Jones  could  not  speak.  He 
drew  his  hand  significantly  across  his 
throat,  and  then  pointed  solemnly  up 
wards. 

Daph  understood  his  meaning  but 
too  well.  She  had  hoped  on,  deter- 
minately  ;  but  now  the  hour  of  awful 
certainty  had  come,  and  she  could  not 
bear  it.  She  gave  one  loud  scream, 
and  fell  senseless  on  the  floor.  The 


120  BABES  IN  THE  BASKET. 

wild  yell  that  burst  from  the  anguished 
heart  of  the  negro,  rang  through  the 
house,  and  Mrs.  Ray  and  Mary  were 
at  the  door  in  a  moment,  followed  by 
the  terrified  children.  Little  Louise 
dropped  down  beside  Daph,  and  began 
to  cry  piteously,  wBile  Charlie  flew  at 
Captain  Jones  like  a  young  lion,  and 
loudly  exclaiming,  "The  naughty  man 
has  killed  dear  Daffy,  and  I'll  punish 
him." 

While  Mrs.  Ray  and  her  daughter 
were  making  every  effort  to  recall  poor 
Daph  to  consciousness,  Charlie  con 
tinued  his  attack  upon  the  captain, 
with  sturdy  foot,  clenched  hand,  and 
sharp  teeth,  until  the  honest  sailor  was 
actually  obliged  to  protect  himself,  by 


NEWS.  121 


putting  the  child  forcibly  from  the 
room,  and  firmly  locking  the  door. 

Perfectly  infuriated,  Charlie  flew  into 
the  street,  screaming,  "  They've  killed 
my  Daffy  !  The  wicked  !  wicked  man.'7 

Several  persons  gathered  round  the 
enraged  child,  and  a  young  physician, 
who  was  passing,  stopped,  to  find  out 
the  cause  of  the  disturbance.  Charlie's 
words,  "  She  lies  dead  there!  The 
wicked  man  has  killed  her,"  caught  the 
attention  of  Dr.  Bates,  and  he  eagerly 
asked,  "  Where,  where,  child?" 

Charlie  pointed  towards  the  house, 
and  the  doctor  entered,  without  cere 
mony,  Charlie  closely  following  him. 
His  loud  knock  was  answered  by  Cap 
tain  Jones,  whose  cautious  manner  of 
6 


122  BABES   IN   THE   BASKET. 


unlocking  the  door  seemed,  to  the 
young  physician,  a  most  suspicious  cir 
cumstance. 

Charlie  no  sooner  caught  sight  of  his 
enemy  than  he  leaped  furiously  upon 
him.  The  strong  sailor  received  him 
in  his  muscular  arms,  and  there  held 
him,  a  most  unwilling  prisoner,  while 
he  watched  the  proceedings  going  on 
about  poor  Daph,  and  rendered  assist 
ance  where  he  could. 

Dr.  Bates  ordered  her  clothes  to  be 
instantly  loosened,  and  then  command 
ed  Mrs.  Ray  to  lay  her  flat  on  the 
floor,  while  he  proceeded  to  apply  his 
lancet  to  her  arm. 

While  this  process  was  going  on,  the 
clock  on  a  neighboring  steeple  struck 


NEWS.  123 


twelve.  Captain  Jones  looked  hastily 
at  his  great  silver  watch,  and  saw  that 
it  was  indeed  midday,  and  he  had  not 
a  moment  to  spare,  as  the  Martha  Jane 
was  by  this  time  quite  ready  to  set  sail, 
and  only  waiting  for  her  captain. 

He  hurriedly  placed  a  little  parcel  on 
the  mantel-piece,  and  with  one  long, 
sorrowful  look  at  poor  Daph,  and  a 
hasty  farewell  to  Mrs.  Ray  and  the 
children,  he  left  the  house. 

It  was  long  before  Daph  returned  to 
consciousness,  and  when  her  eyes  once 
more  opened  they  were  wild  with  fever 
and  anguish.  She  declared,  however, 
that  she  was  quite  well,  and  would 
have  no  one  about  her  ;  she  longed  to 
be  alone,  to  struggle  with  her  great 


12-1  BABES   IX   THE   BASKET. 


sorrow.  The  children  would  not  leave 
her,  but  it  was  in  vain  they  tried  their 
little  expressions  of  tenderness,  and 
begged  her  look  once  more  like  their 
"  own  dear  Daffy." 

The  sight  of  the  unconscious  orphans 
redoubled  the  grief  of  the  poor  negro, 
and  she  burst  into  a  flood  of  tears. 
The  poor  children,  overcome  at  this 
unwonted  sight,  sank  down  beside  her, 
and  mingled  their  tears  with  hers. 

Mrs.  Ray  and  the  young  doctor 
were  sorely  puzzled  by  the  strange 
scenes  they  had  witnessed.  They  had 
both  seen  the  rich  chains  about  Daph's 
neck,  which  had  been  disclosed  while 
she  was  unconscious,  and  not  a  little 
wonder  was  excited  by  the  sight  of 


NE\VS.  125 


that  expensive  jewelry  in  such  a  place. 
Dr.  Bates  had  not  failed  to  observe  the 
refined  appearance  of  the  fair  Louise 
and  the  noble  bearing  of  little  Charlie, 
contrasting  as  they  did  so  strangely, 
with  the  plainness  of  their  humble 
home,  and  the  unmistakable  African 
face  of  the  woman,  of  whom  they 
seemed  so  fond. 

The  wild  agitation  of  Daph,  the 
disappearance  of  the  sun-browned 
stranger,  the  necklaces,  the  children, 
all  tended  to  fill  the  mind  of  Dr.  Bates 
with  dark  suspicion.  He  lingered 
about  Daph  as  long  as  he  could  make 
any  excuse  for  doing  so,  and  when  he 
reluctantly  turned  from  the  room,  he 
did  not  leave  the  house  without  tho- 


126  BABES   IN   THE   BASKET. 


roughly  questioning  Mrs.  Ray  as  to 
what  she  knew  of  her  lodgers.  Mrs. 
Ray  had  but  little  to  tell,  excepting, 
that  they  had  been  commended  to  her, 
three  years  before,  by  the  same  tall 
sailor,  whose  appearance  that  day  had 
created  such  a  commotion.  Of  Captain 
Jones  she  could  only  say,  that  he  had 
been  a  mess-mate  of  her  husband, 
years  before,  and  had  always  been 
reckoned  an  honest,  kind-hearted  man. 
The  questions  put  by  Dr.  Bates 
roused  all  the  curiosity  of  Mrs.  Ray, 
and  revived  the  suspicions,  with  regard 
to  Daph,  which  had  been  much  in  her 
mind  during  the  early  days  of  their 
acquaintance.  Such  thoughts  had  long 
since  been  banished,  by  the  honest, 


NEWS.  127 


upright  life  of  the  kind-hearted,  indus 
trious  negro,  but  now  they  rose  with 
new  strength. 

She  recalled  the  richly  embroidered 
dresses  in  which  the  children  some 
times  appeared,  the  first  summer  after 
their  arrival,  and  she  dwelt  on  the  re 
luctance  which  Daph  always  exhibited 
to  answering  any  questions  as  to  her 
past  life,  or  the  circumstances  attend 
ing  her  departure  from  her  southern 
home. 

These  remembrances  and  suspicions 
she  detailed  to  the  willing  ear  of  Dr. 
Bates,  who  was  satisfied  that  he  was 
on  the  eve  of  unraveling  some  tangled 
web  of  iniquity,  and  with  slow  and 
thoughtful  steps  he  walked  away  from 


128  BABES  IN  THE   BASKET. 


the  humble  home,  so  wrapped  in  mys 
tery. 

Once  more  left  to  herself,  Mrs.  Ray 
felt  ashamed  of  having  doubted  poor 
Daph,  and  was  half  inclined  to  go  to 
her,  and  frankly  own  the  misgivings 
the  late  occurrences  had  excited  ;  but 
the  thought  of  those  strange  circum 
stances  again  set  her  curiously  at  work, 
and  all  right  feeling  was  soon  lost,  in 
an  eager  anxiety  to  find  out  the  dark 
secret,  which  hung  like  a  cloud  over 
the  poor  negro. 


IX. 


DAPH  had  been  smitten  by  a  blow 
too  sudden  and  violent,  to  rally  imme 
diately  from  its  effects.  Her  strength 
and  energy  seemed  forever  gone.  The 
hope  which  had  upheld  her  had  been 
stricken  from  her,  and  she  knew  not 
where  to  go  for  comfort. 

"  De  great  Lord  has  gib  poor  Daph 
up  !  "  she  said,  disconsolately  ;  and, 
prostrate  in  mind  and  body,  she  lay  on 
her  low  bed,  her  eyes  shut,  and  her 

soul  all  dark  within. 

6*  (129) 


130  BABES  IN  THE   BASKET. 


It  was  now  that  Mary  Ray  had  an 
opportunity  of  showing  her  deep  grati 
tude,  for  the  unwearied  kindness  of  her 
humble  friend.  She  assumed  the  care 
of  the  children,  and  tried  to  keep 
them  happy  out  of  Daph's  sight,  and 
thoughtfully  volunteered  to  go  round 
herself  to  Daph's  customers,  to  tell 
them  that  sickness  had  prevented  her 
from  preparing  her  usual  supply. 

All  that  Mary  offered,  Daph  quietly 
accepted,  almost  without  opening  her 
eyes. 

Daph  seemed  to  have  no  wants,  and 
it  was  in  ^ain  that  Mrs.  Ray  came  in 
and  out,  and  bustled  about  putting  the 
room  in  order,  opening  and  closing  the 
shutters,  and  making  herself  very  busy, 


A  MINISTERING   SPIRIT.  131 


to  no  possible  advantage  ;  Daph  did 
not  notice  her  ;  her  thoughts  were  far, 
far  away. 

In  one  of  these  visits,  Mrs.  Hay 
chanced  to  find  the  gold  chain  the  cap 
tain  had  laid  on  the  mantel-piece. 
This  added  fuel  to  her  suspicions,  and 
she  felt  justified  in  secreting  it,  and 
showing  it  to  Dr.  Bates,  as  a  further 
proof  of  the  mystery  clinging  to  Daph. 

Mrs.  Ray's  mind  was  in  a  most 
agitated  state.  Sometimes  she  was 
haunted  with  vague  notions  of  some 
most  awful  crime  committed  by  Daph, 
and  then  again  the  kind,  truthful  face 
of  the  negro  would  rise  up  before  her, 
and  change  her  suspicions  into  shame 
and  self-reproach. 


132  BABES  IN  THE   BASKET. 


At  such  times,  she  could  not  help 
feeling,  that  only  virtue  and  honesty 
could  be  at  home  in  a  heart  capable  of 
such  generous  forgiveness,  and  patient 
return  of  good  for  evil,  as  she  had 
received  from  the  now  sorrow-stricken 
negro.  These  moments  of  relenting, 
too  soon  alas  !  were  gone. 

Daph  was  lying  sad  and  alone  in  the 
silent  room,  a  few  days  after  the  visit 
of  Captain  Jones,  when  she  heard  a 
low  tap  at  the  door,  followed  by  Mrs. 
Ray's  loud  voice,  saying,  "  Walk  right 
in,  Miss.  She  aint  much  sick,  to  my 
notion,  but  she  don't  take  no  notice  of 
anybody." 

Daph  did  notice  the  stranger  who 
entered,  and  she  even  smiled  sorrow- 


A  MINISTERING  SPIRIT.  133 


fully  as  she  looked  up  into  the  face  of 
Rose  Stuyvesant. 

"  We  missed  your  nice  cakes  on  the 
table,  Daph,77  said  a  soft  voice,  "  and 
when  I  heard  you  were  sick,  I  deter 
mined  to  come  and  see  you  myself,77 

These  words  of  kindness  from  a  re 
fined  and  gentle  woman,  melted  the 
heart  of  the  suffering  negro.  She 
burst  into  tears  as  she  exclaimed,  "  0, 
my  sweet  young  lady  !  You  speaks  to 
poor  Daph  like  her  own  dear  missus 
used  to  !" 

Rose  Stuyvesant  sat  down  beside  the 
low  bed  that  Mary  had  spread  for  Daph 
on  the  floor.  "Are  you  very  sick, 
Daph  ?'7  she  asked,  tenderly. 

1  Daph  is  all  dead  here,  and  all  dizzy 


134  BABES   IX   THE   BASKET. 


here,"  said  the  poor  creature,  laying 
her  hand  first  on  her  heart,  and  then 
on  her  head.  "  De  great  Lord  has 
sent  Daph  a  big  trouble,  and  den  gib 
her  right  up  ;"  and  the  tears  again 
flowed  fast. 

Rose  bent  over  the  unhappy  negro, 
and  said,  gently,  "The  great  Lord 
loves  you  too  well,  Daph,  to  give  you 
up  in  your  trouble.  Perhaps  he  has 
sent  me  to  comfort  you  !" 

Daph  looked  up  with  a  gleam  of  hope 
in  her  eye,  and  murmured,  "  No  reason 
why  Daph  should  n't  jus  tell  all  de 
truth  now.  Perhaps,  if  de  sweet 
young  lady  knows  all,  she  may  comfort 
Daph  up." 

"  The  Lord  Jesus  can  comfort  us  in 


A  MINISTERING  SPIRIT.  135 

any  trouble,"  said  Rose,  softly.  "  What 
makes  you  so  unhappy  ?  Cannot  you 
tell  me  ?" 

Daph  looked  long  into  the  sweet 
face  turned  lovingly  towards  her,  and 
then  said,  "  De  great  Lord  has  sent 
a-most  an  angel  to  poor  Daph,  and  she 
shall  hear  it  all." 

The  secret  that  had  so  long  burden 
ed  the  lonely  negro,  was  now  poured 
out  with  all  the  unconscious  eloquence 
of  a  true,  warm,  single-heart.  The 
tears  flowed  fast  down  the  cheeks  of 
Rose  Stuyvesant,  as  she  heard  the 
simple  story  of  devoted,  heroic  affec 
tion,  and  long,  patient  self-sacrifice. 

She  understood  the  hope  that  had 
cheered  Daph  through  years  of  labor 


136  BABES  IN  THE   BASKET. 


and  anxiety, — the  hope  of  placing  the 
children  of  her  mistress  again  on  the 
bosom  that  had  nursed  them,  and  of 
seeing  the  happy  father  again  embrace 
his  long  lost  ones.  That  hope  was 
now  forever  gone,  and  Rose  Stuyvesant 
mingled  her  tears  with  those  of  poor 
Daph,  as  she  concluded  her  story. 

Those  real  tears  made  Daph  feel  that 
she  had  found  a  true  friend,  who  sym 
pathised  with  her  in  her  distress,  and 
this  in  itself  was  a  whisper  of  comfort, 

As  soon  as  Rose  could  command 
herself,  she  said,  as  she  took  the  black 
hand  in  her  own,  "  Daph,  the  mother 
who  loved  to  teach  her  little  ones  of 
Jesus,  has  gone  to  be  with  Him.  Your 
master,  too,  is  now  with  the  Heavenly 


A  MINISTERING   SPIRIT.  137 


King.  You  will  still  be  able  to  give 
them  back  their  children,  in  that  better 
land,  where  there  is  no  parting,  where 
no  sorrow  ever  comes." 

The  negro  looked  earnestly  in  the 
face  of  the  speaker,  as  she  went  on  ; 
"  You  must  teach  the  little  ones  to 
love  the  Lord  Jesus,  and  lead  them  to 
his  home  in  heaven.  Daph,  you  have 
that  now  to  do,  and  that  is  worth  living 
and  striving  for." 

"  How  shall  poor  Daph  show  the 
way  to  heaven  ;  she  don't  know  it  jus 
zactly  herself,"  said  the  poor  creature, 
and  the  momentary  gleam  of  hope 
faded  from  her  face  as  she  spoke. 

"  Jesus  Christ  has  opened  the  door 
of  heaven  wide,  for  all  that  love  Him 


138  BABES  IN  THE   BASKET. 

and  trust  Him,"  said  Rose,  eagerly  ; 
"  His  blood,  shed  on  the  cross,  can 
wash  away  the  sins  of  the  whole 
world.  The  great  Lord  will  forgive 
you  all  that  is  past,  and  receive  you 
into  heaven,  for  Jesus'  sake,  if  you 
really  wish  it." 

"  What  else  Daph  want  now  in  dis 
world,  but  jus  know  de  way  to  heaven 
herself,  and  lead  de  childen  dere  ?" 
was  the  earnest  reply. 

Poor  Daph  had  been  entrusted  with 
but  little  religious  knowledge,  but  to 
that  she  had  clung  in  simple  faith 
through  all  her  trials.  She  had  im 
proved  the  few  talents  that  had  been 
given  her,  and  now  came  her  reward 
in  the  fulness  of  the  light  of  the  gospel. 


A  MINISTERING  SPIRIT.  139 


Again,  and  again  her  young  teacher 
explained  the  way  of  forgiveness  and 
eternal  peace  through  the  blood  of 
Christ. 

At  last  the  beauty,  freedom,  and 
matchless  love  of  the  plan  of  redemp 
tion  burst  upon  her,  and  there  was 
joy  in  heaven,  when  the  poor  negro  in 
the  midst  of  her  tears,  welcomed 
Christ  as  her  Saviour,  and  knew  "  the 
great  Lord,"  as  her  reconciled  Father 
in  heaven. 

While  the  long  conversation,  so  full 
of  moment  to  Daph,  was  taking  place, 
Mary  Ray  had  kept  the  children  hap 
py  in  the  little  garden.  Their  patience 
at  last  gave  way,  and  they  pleaded  so 
hard  "Just  to  look  at  dear  Daffy," 


140  BABES  IN  THE   BASKET. 


that  their  young  nurse  could  resist 
them  no  longer. 

Charlie  burst  impetuously  into  the 
room,  unmindful  of  the  stranger,  while 
Louise  more  timidly  followed.  Warm 
tears  filled  the  eyes  of  Rose  Stuyves- 
ant  as  she  looked,  for  the  first  time,  on 
the  orphans.  Charlie  saw  immediate 
ly  the  happy  change  that  had  passed 
over  Daph's  face,  and  walking  straight 
up  to  her,  he  said  exultingly  "Daffy's 
better !  Daffy's  better  !  Good  Daffy  !" 
and  he  laid  his  curly  head  on  her  dark 
arm  which  told  how  dearly  she  was 
beloved. 

A  peculiar  attraction  seemed  to 
draw  Louise  to  the  side  of  the  stran 
ger,  and  when  she  was  tenderly  kissed, 


A   MINISTERING   SPIRIT.  141 


and  that  sweet,  soft,  face  bent  down  to 
hers,  with  loving  interest,  the  child  put 
her  head  on  the  bosom  of  Rose  Stuy- 
vesant,  clung  to  her  neck  and  sobbed 
as  if  her  heart  would  break. 

'It  is  not  mamma!"  murmured  the 
child  ;  and  then  more  and  more  fondly 
embraced  one,  who  had  brought  back 
from  the  dim  recesses  of  memory,  the 
image  of  her  long-lost  mother. 

Rose  was  but  little  less  moved  than 
the  child,  and  in  her  heart  she  prayed 
that  she  might  give  to  the  little  one 
such  lessons  in  holiness,  as  would  win 
an  approving  smile,  were  they  heard 
by  that  mother  in  heaven. 

By  degrees,  the  agitation  of  little 
Louise  subsided,  but  she  quietly  kept 


142  BABES   IN   THE   BASKET. 


her  seat  on  the  lap  of  her  new  friend, 
and  seemed  to  find  a  new  pleasure  in 
looking  into  her  kind  face  and  smooth 
ing  her  fair,  soft  hand. 

Meanwhile,  Daph  drew  from  her 
pocket  a  parcel,  which  she  had  ever 
carried  about  her,  perhaps  with  the 
vague  idea  that  it  had  some  talismanic 
charm  to  keep  her  from  evil.  Wrap 
per  after  wrapper  was  taken  off,  until 
at  last  the  little  book  with  golden 
clasps  appeared. 

"  That  was  all  about  Him,  I  know," 
said  Daph,  "  about  that  good  Saviour, 
but  Daph  can't  read  the  blessed 
book." 

Rose  took  the  Bible  that  was  hand 
ed  to  her.  and  read  on  the  fly-leaf, 


A   MINISTERING   SPIRIT.  143 

"  Elize  Latourette,  from  her  devoted 
husband.  One  Lord,  one  faith,  one 
baptism  !" 

The  sight  of  that  book  in  the  hands 
of  Rose,  again  awoke  the  dim  mem 
ories  of  the  child  on  her  knee,  and 
Louise,  through  fresh  tears,  was  doub 
ly  drawn  towards  her  new  friend. 

"  Suffer  little  children  to  come  unto 
me,  and  forbid  them  not,  for  of  such  is 
the  kingdom  of  heaven,"  read  the 
sweet  voice  of  Rose.  "  All  are  the 
children  of  Jesus,  who  put  their  trust 
in  Him,  and  truly  love  Him." 

A  thrill  passed  over  the  frame  of 
little  Louise  at  the  sound  of  these 
words,  and  she  kissed  the  lips  of  the 
speaker,  with  strange  joy  in  her  eyes. 


144:  BABES   IX  THE   BASKET. 


"I  cannot  stay  any  longer  now/7  said 
Rose,  attempting  to  rise. 

"Don't  go!  don't  go!"  said  Louise, 
almost  wildly,  "  I  cannot  let  you  go!'7 

"But  I  must,  my  sweet  Louise," 
said  Rose,  as  she  gently  disengaged 
the  child  :  "  I  must  go  now,  but  I  will 
come  every  day  and  read  to  you,  and 
your  'Daffy/  out  of  this  dear  book." 

"  When  ?  When  ?  What  time  will 
you  come  ? "  asked  the  child,  anxiously, 
while  Daph  listened  eagerly  for  the 
answer. 

"Tomorrow,  at  eleven  o'clock,  you 
must  stand  at  the  window  and  watch 
for  me,  I  will  not  keep  you  waiting 
long." 

With  this  promise   again  repeated, 


A   MINISTERING   SPIRIT. 


Rose  kissed  the  children,  and  with  a 
murmured  word  of  comfort  to  Daph, 
Dassed  from  the  room. 

Not  so  soon  passed  away  the  in 
fluence  of  that  visit  prompted  by 
Christian  kindness,  rich  in  blessings  to 
the  humble  negro  ;  most  precious  to 
that  young  disciple  of  Christ,  who  had 
learned  to  love  to  be  "about  her 
Master's  business.'' 


X. 


DAY  after  day  Rose  Stuyvesant  con 
tinued  her  ministry  of  love  to  Daph 
and  the  little  ones.  The  hour  of  her 
morning  visit  was  watched  for,  and 
hailed  with  joy,  and  well  it  might  be, 
for  she  brought  with  her  the  sweet  in 
fluence  of  a  loving  heart  and  an  ear 
nest  devoted  spirit. 

The  children  were,  as  usual,  eagerly 
looking  out  for  her  one  morning,  about 
a  week  after  her  first  appearance  i» 
their  humble  home.  Daph,  who  was 
once  more  on  her  feet,  was  moving 

(146) 


STRANGE   PROCEEDINGS.  147 

about  with  a  step  a  little  more  languid 
than  usual,  trying,  as  she  said,  "  to 
make  the  place  look  a  bit  more  fitsome 
for  the  sweet  young  lady  to  sit  down 
in."  Charlie,  who  was  perched  on  a 
chair  beside  his  sister,  and  had  had  his 
nose  pressed  from  time  to  time  flat 
against  the  window,  and  had  drawn  all 
sorts  of  strange  characters,  with  his  fat 
fingers,  in  the  dampness  left  by  his 
breath  on  the  pane,  at  length  had  his 
attention  suddenly  arrested.  "  0, 
Lou!'7  he  shouted,  "look  this  way,  on 
the  steps  !  there's  that  ugly,  old,  bad 
doctor,  that  cut  dear  Daffy's  arm,  and 
two  big  men  with  him." 

"  Good  doctor,  Charlie  !"  said  Daph, 
•'  he  wanted  to  make  Daffy  well,  but 


148  BABES   IN   THE   BASKET. 

he  didn't  jus  know  how.  It  took  Miss 
Rose  wid  her  sweet  holy  words  to  do 
Daph  good." 

"  He's  an  old,  bad  doctor,  I  say, 
and  shan't  come  in !"  said  Charlie, 
springing  towards  the  door,  as  the 
voice  of  the  doctor  sounded  in  the  hall, 
and  his  hand  touched  the  latch.  The 
sturdy  little  figure  of  the  boy,  reso 
lutely  backed  up  against  the  door  was 
but  a  small  obstacle,  in  the  way  of  the 
strong  hands  that  forced  it  instantly 
open. 

"  For  shame,  Mass'  Charlie  !  Let 
the  young  gemman  in !"  said  Daph,  as 
she  came  forward,  dropping  a  curtsy. 
"Ise  quite  well  sir  to  day,"  she  con 
tinued,  "  and  Ise  mighty  tankful  for 


STRANGE   PROCEEDINGS.  149 


you  being  so  uncomnion  willing  to  do 
somewhat  for  to  cure  Daph,  for  by  her 
arm  do  be  a  little  stiff  for  de  cuttin 
you  gib  it  de  oder  day.77 

"He's  an  old,  bad  man  to  hurt 
Daffy,  and  I  aint  glad  to  see  him  a 
bit,"  said  Charlie,  with  an  angry  look. 

"Do  your  work  1  This  is  the  wo 
man  I"  said  the  slender  young  doctor, 
turning  to  the  stout  men  he  had 
brought  with  him. 

A  strong  hand  was  laid  on  each 
shoulder  of  the  astonished  Daph,  and 
a  rough  voice  said,  "  Come  with  us, 
old  woman !77 

"  I  isn't  goin  to  do  no  such  thing,7' 
said  she,  with  an  indignant  glance. 
"  What  for  is  I  goin  to  waste  my  time 


150  BABES   IN   THE   BASKET. 


goin  with  them  as  I  has  no  business 
wid  ?  Perhaps  you  doesn't  know  what 
manners  is,  to  be  layin  hands  on  a 
poor  nigger  dis  way.  Take  your  big 
hands  off!  Ise  my  misses'  childen  to 
look  after,  and  we's  would  be  glad  to 
hab  dis  bit  of  a  room  to  ourselves  !" 

Daph  had  not  spoken  very  rapidly, 
but  even  as  the  indignant  words  forced 
themselves  out  of  her  mouth,  she  was 
hurried  towards  the  door. 

"You'd  better  do  your  talking 
now/'  said  one  of  the  men  coarsely, 
11  for  before  half  an  hour's  over  you'll 
be  locked  up  where  nobody'll  hear  you 
if  you  holler  till  you  are  hoarse." 

Daph  began  to  struggle  violently, 
and  the  sinewy  men  who  held  her 


STRANGE   PROCEEDINGS.  151 

were  well  nigh  compelled  to  relinquish 
their  grasp. 

"Is  you  a  gemman,  doctor?'7  she 
said  desperately,  at  last,  "  Is  you  a 
gemman,  and  stand  still  to  see  a  poor 
woman  treated  dis  way  ?" 

"  You  are  only  getting  your  de 
serts,"  said  little  Dr.  Bates,  drawing 
himself  up,  and  trying  to  look  digni 
fied.  "  You  are  to  be  tried  for  stealing, 
and  for  the  other  awful  crimes  which 
your  own  conscience  can  best  count 
over  to  you,  and  be  sure  the  severest 
punishment  of  the  law  awaits  you !  " 

"Is  that  all?"  said  Daph,  her  spirit 
rising,  "Carry  me  to  any  real  gem 
man,  and  it  would  take  more  liars 
than  ever  grew  to  prove  any  such  like 


152  BABES   IN   THE   BASKET. 


things  against  poor  Daph.  Ise  not  a 
bit  afeared  to  go  wid  you,  for  sartain 
Ise  be  back  soon  'nough." 

The  children,  who  had  been  at  first 
struck  with  silent  astonishment,  now 
began  to  realize  that  Daph  was  ac 
tually  going  from  them.  Louise  burslj 
into  a  violent  fit  of  weeping,  and  clung 
to  the  unfortunate  negro,  while  Char 
lie,  with  an  uplifted  wash-basin,  made 
a  sudden  attack  upon  the  slender  legs 
of  Dr.  Bates,  which  broke  up  his  dig 
nified  composure,  and  made  him  give 
a  skip  that  would  have  done  honor 
to  a  bear  dancing  on  a  hot  iron  plate. 

"Now,  Mass'  Charley,  Ise  do  be 
shamed,"  said  Daph,  subduing  the 
grin  that  had  suddenly  overspread  her 


STRANGE    PROCEEDINGS.  153 

face.  "  De  young  gemman  don't 
know  no  better!  'Tain't  likely  he 
ever  had  body  to  teach  him !  You 
jus  let  him  be,  Mass7  Charlie,  and  tend 
to  your  own  sister,  Miss  Lou,  here. 
Don't  cry,  pretty  dear,  Daph  will  be 
back  soon !  De  Lord  won't  let  em 
hurt  Daph !  You  be  jus  good  chil- 
den,  and  dat  sweet  Miss  Rose  will 
comfort  you  till  Daph  comes  home." 

The  last  words  were  hardly  uttered, 
when  the  negro  was  forced  into  a  long 
covered  wagon  and  rapidly  borne  away 
from  the  door. 

At    this    moment    Mary    Ray    raa 
breathlessly  up  the  steps,  exclaiming, 
"  Where  have  they  taken  Daph,  moth 
er  ?  Mother,  what  is  the  matter  ?" 
7* 


154  BABES  IN  THE   BASKET. 


"Matter  enough!"  said  Mrs.  Ray, 
vehemently;  "who  could  have  told 
it  would  have  ended  that  way  !  I  am 
sure  I  never  meant  any  such  thing. 
Daph's  gone  to  prison  •  and  just  as  likely 
I  shall  never  hear  the  end  of  it,  and 
have  the  children  upon  my  hands, 
into  the  bargain.  Well,  well ;  I  wish 
I'd  never  set  eyes  on  that  little  spinky, 
Dr.  Bates !" 

The  bitter  reproaches  that  rose  to 
Mary's  lips, .were  hushed  at  the  men 
tion  of  the  children  ;  and  she  hast 
ened  to  comfort  them,  as  well  as  she 
could,  while  Mrs.  Ray  went  back  to 
her  kitchen,  in  no  very  enviable  frame 
of  mind. 


XI. 


"Dis  don't  be  de  cleanest  place  in 
de  world  !"  said  Daph  to  herself,  as  she 
looked  round  the  small,  bare  room  into 
which  she  had  been  thrust.  "  Well,77 
she  continued,  "  de  Lord  Jesus,  do 
be  everywhere  ;  arid  Daph  no  reason 
to  be  above  stay  in  where  such  as  he 
do  set  foot.  But  den  de  cliilden  ! 
what's  to  become  of  de  childen  ?  " 

Here  Daph's  resolution  gave  way, 
and  she  took  a  hearty  cry.  "  Daph, 
you  do  be  a  wicked  creter,"  she  said  to 

(155) 


156  BABES  IN  THE   BASKET. 


herself,  at  length.  "  Jus  as  if  de  Lord 
Jesus  didn't  love  little  childen  ebber 
so  much  better  dan  you  can !  He's 
jus  able  hisself  to  take  care  ob  de 
dears  ;  and  Daph  needn't  go  for  to 
fret  hersef  bout  dem." 

Thus  consoled,  Daph  was  prepared 
calmly  to  wait  whatever  should  befall 
her.  The  stream  of  sunlight  that 
poured  through  the  small  window, 
slowly  crept  along  the  floor?  and  the 
weary  hours  passed  away. 

The  new  and  beautiful  truths,  that 
had  of  late  been  brought  home  to 
the  soul  of  Daph,  were  much  in  hei 
thoughts  and  full  of  comfort. 

"  I  do  be  afraid,"  she  said  to  herself, 
"  Ise  did  not  act  so  bery  Christianable, 


ANOTHER   FRIEND.  157 

when  dose  big  men  did  catch  Daph  by 
de  shoulter.  Dere's  somewhat  in 
Daph  mighty  strong,  dat  don't  like 
folks  puttin  hands  on  widout  tellin 
what  7s  de  matter.  Well,  well  ;  I 
spose  Daph  will  get  like  a  lamb,  some 
time,  if  de  Lord  helps  her.  Ise  do 
wonder  what  the  dears  is  a  doin,  jus 
now.  Maybe  that  sweet  Miss  Rose  is 
just  speakin  to  dem  beautiful  words 
out  ob  de  blessed  book.  How  Daph 
would  like  to  hear  dose  same  words, 
her  own  self!77 

Daph's  meditations  were  interrupted 
by  the  sudden  turning  of  the  key  in 
the  lock,  and  then  the  door  of  the 
small  room  was  thrown  open  to  admit 
the  entrance  of  a  stranger. 


158  BABES   IN   THE   BASKET. 

The  new-comer  was  a  short,  stout, 
elderly  man,  with  a  dignified  bearing, 
and  a  calm,  kindly  expression  in  his 
round  un  fur  rowed  face. 

Daph  looked  at  him  from  his  pow 
dered  head,  to  his  white-topped  boots, 
with  entire  satisfaction.  "He  do  be 
a  real  gemman,  and  dat  's  a  comfort," 
she  said  to  herself,  as  she  dropped 
a  curtsy,  and  waited  to  be  addressed 
by  the  stranger. 

Daph's  favorable  impressions  were 
increased  by  the  mild  manner  and 
clear  voice  in  which  she  was  addressed. 
She  soon  felt  sufficiently  at  ease  to 
comply  with  the  request  made  by  the 
gentleman,  that  she  would  tell  him, 
frankly,  all  that  she  could  remember 


ANOTHER  FRIEND.  159 

of  her  life  for  the  last  few  years, 
and  explain  how  she,  a  poor  negro, 
came  in  possession  of  jewelry  fit  for  a 
duchess  to  wear. 

Daph  began  in  her  own  simple  way, 
and  described  those  pleasant  home 
scenes  on  that  far  Southern  island.  Her 
heart  grew  light  at  the  thought  of  the 
happy  family  circle  in  those  good  old 
times.  It  was  with  difficulty  she  brought 
herself  to  speak  of  the  sudden  destruc 
tion  with  which  that  home  was  threat 
ened.  She  touched  but  lightly  on  her 
own  efforts  to  save  the  little  ones, 
when  there  was  no  earthly  friend,  but 
herself,  between  them  and  a  bloody 
death. 

From  time  to  time  her  listener  ques- 


160  BABES  IN  THE  BASKET. 

tioned  her  suddenly  ;  but  she  answered 
him  with  such  apparent  frankness  and 
simplicity,  that  he  felt  ashamed  of  the 
momentary  suspicions  that  had  crossed 
his  mind. 

When  Daph  came,  in  the  progress  of 
her  story,  to  the  captain's  late  visit,  and 
to  the  day  of  dark,  hopeless  despair  that 
followed  it,  the  eyes  that  were  fixed 
upon  her,  slowly  filled  with  tears. 

Those  tears  suddenly  gushed  forth, 
as  with  the  eloquence  of  a  grateful 
heart  Daph  described  the  face,  like 
that  of  an  angel,  that  bent  over  her 
in  her  distress,  and  told  of  the  Saviour, 
who  is  the  friend  of  the  sinner,  and 
the  comfort  of  all  that  mourn. 

"God  bless  my  sweet  Rose!'7  mur- 


ANOTHER   FKIEND.  161 

mured  the  stranger.  "  This  was  an 
errand  of  mercy,  indeed !  "  After  a 
moment's  pause,  he  added  aloud,  "You 
need  say  no  more,  Daph  ;"  and,  as  he 
spoke,  he  put  out  his  hand  to  take 
that  of  the  humble  negro. 

She  did  not  notice  the  movement ; 
for  she  had  lowered  her  eyes  as  she 
dropped  her  modest  curtsy,  and  re 
lapsed  into  silence. 

Diedrich  Stuyvesant  loved  his  daugh 
ter  Rose,  as  the  apple  of  his  eye  ;  but 
he  thought  her  a  little  too  enthusiastic 
in  her  desire  to  do  good ;  and  he 
trembled,  lest  her  warm  feelings  should 
lead  her  judgment  astray. 

When  she  had  burst  into  his  library 
that  morning,  her  face  flushed  with 


162  BABES   IN  THE   BASKET. 


excitement  and  unwonted  exercise,  he 
had  met  her  with  more  than  his  usual 
calmness  and  phlegmatic  consideration. 
The  hasty  outline  she  gave  him  of  the 
story  of  her  new  protege,  seemed  to 
him  strange  and  improbable  ;  but  he 
could  not  resist  the  earnestness  with 
which  she  besought  him  to  hasten 
to  the  release  of  an  innocent  and 
injured  woman.  Rose  felt  a  little  re 
lieved  when  she  saw  her  father  take 
his  gold-headed  cane  and  walk  forth, 
with  the  deliberate  air  of  one  who  has 
important  business  on  hand.  She 
would  gladly  have  hurried  his  steps  ; 
but  she  knew,  that,  though  slow  and 
cautious,  whatever  he  undertook  would 
be  kindly  and  wisely  done,  and  in  this 


ANOTHER   FRIEND.  163 

belief  she  forced  herself  to  wait  pa 
tiently  for  his  long-delayed  return. 

Good  Diedrich  Stuyvesant  did  not 
go  directly  to  the  prison,  as  his 
daughter  had  advised.  He  first  called 
on  Dr.  Bates,  heard  his  pompous  state 
ment  of  the  grounds  of  his  suspicions, 
and  received  from  him  the  troublesome 
gold  chain,  that  was  deemed  of  such 
importance. 

Having  agreed  to  meet  the  little 
doctor  at  a  certain  hour,  at  the  place 
of  Daph's  imprisonment,  he  proceeded 
to  the  red  house  with  the  blue  shut 
ters,  and  inquired  for  Mrs.  Ray.  That 
personage  was  thrown  into  a  fit  of 
mortification  to  be  found  by  so  grand 
a  gentleman  in  a  dishabille,  plainly 


BABES   IN  THE   BASKET. 

intimating  its  recent  proximity  to  the 
wash-tub  ;  and  her  curiosity  alone  pre 
vented  her  absolutely  refusing  to  be 
seen  in  such  a  plight. 

It  did  not  take  Diedrich  Stuyvesant 
many  minutes  to  fathom  Mrs.  Ray, 
and  to  give  to  her  mean  and  idle  curios 
ity  the  contempt  that  even  she  herself 
felt  that  it  deserved.  "All  accoutred 
as  she  was/'  she  found  herself  obliged 
to  accompany  her  new  acquaintance  to 
the  prison,  where  she  and  Dr.  Bates 
occupied  a  room  near  that  in  which 
Daph  had  been  placed,  while  Diedrich 
Stuyvesant  proceeded  to  converse  with 
the  prisoner.  The  time  seemed  long 
to  the  little  doctor  ;  for  he  had  the  full 
benefit  of  all  the  vituperative  epithets 


ANOTHER   FRIEND.  165 


in  Mrs.  Ray's  vocabulary,  Which  was 
by  no  means  a  limited  one  in  that  de 
partment.  On  him  she  vented  all  the 
dissatisfaction  she  felt  at  having  been 
led  ''into/7  as  she  exclaimed,  "the 
worst,  the  very  worst  piece  of  business 
I  ever  put  my  finger  in ! " 

Daph  had  completed  her  story  and 
was  standing  silent  and  humble,  when 
Diedrich  Stuyvesant  summoned  Dr. 
Bates  and  Mrs.  Ray. 

The  Dr.,  small  in  every  respect, 
entered  with  an  air  of  triumph,  while 
Mrs.  Ray  followed  ;  pity,  self-reproach 
and  curiosity  strangely  blending  in  the 
expression  with  which  she  looked  upon 
her  lodger. 

Daph  met  their  glance   with   quiet 


166  BABES   IN  THE  BASKET. 

composure.  In  her  heart  she  had 
been  giving  thanks  to  the  merciful 
God,  who  had  raised  up  for  her  a  new 
arid  powerful  friend,  and  fresh  from 
the  presence  of  her  Divine  Master,  she 
could  look  on  those  who  had  injured 
her,  without  one  taint  of  bitterness. 

Diedrich  Stuyvesant  had  spoken 
often  in  the  councils  of  his  country, 
and  to  his  clear,  calm  voice,  none  had 
failed  to  listen,  for  he  ever  spoke  with 
the  power  of  reason  and  truth.  Now, 
he  stood  with  the  dignity  of  one  ac 
customed  to  be  heard,  as  he  looked  for 
a  moment  in  silence  on  the  accusers. 
Then,  in  a  short,  clear  statement,  he 
told  the  story  of  the  humble  negro, 
who  listened  writh  wonder,  as  he 


ANOTHER   FRIEND.  167 

named  with  admiration  and  respect 
the  acts  which  she  had  performed, 
guided  by  her  own  loving  heart,  and 
upheld  by  simple  faith  in  "  the  great 
Lord  "  of  all. 

Sternness  and  contempt  struggled  for 
mastery  in  the  voice  of  Diedrich  Stuy- 
vesant,  as  in  concluding,  he  turned  to 
wards  Dr.  Bates,  and  said,  "  As  for 
you,  young  man,  look  at  that  dark- 
skinned,  ignorant  woman,  from  whom 
you  would  have  lightly  taken  her  only 
wealth, — her  good  name, — which  is 
above  all  price  !  " 

11  Think  of  your  own  fair  skin,  you 
deem  so  superior, — of  the  education 
you  rightly  value, — the  Christian 
teaching  that  has  been  sounded  in 


168  BABES  IN  THE  BASKET. 

your  ears  since  childhood,  and  then 
say  what  good  work  you  have  done  in 
this  world  !  What  have  you  to  bring 
forward  in  comparison  with  the  hero 
ism  and  self-sacrifice  of  this  poor  wo 
man,  whom  you  despised  ?  Young 
man,  think  twice,  if  you  are  capable 
of  thought,  before  you  again  peril  the 
good  name  of  the  industrious  poor, 
who  are  under  the  especial  care  of  the 
great  Father  in  Heaven  !  Explore  the 
secrets  of  your  profession,  but  honor 
the  sanctity  of  every  humble  home, 
and  pry  not  into  those  things  which  a 
lawful  pride  and  an  honorable  delicacy 
would  hide  from  the  eye  of  a  stranger. 
Know,  young  man,  that  you  have  this 
day  broken  the  laws  of  this  free  coun- 


ANOTHER   FRIEND.  169 


try,  where  no  honest  citizen  can  be  de 
prived  of  liberty,  on  bare  suspicion, 
and  you  yourself  merit  the  punishment 
you  would  have  brought  on  the  guilt 
less.  But  go !  I  would  do  you  no 
harm.  Go,  and  be  a  wiser  and  better 
man  for  what  you  have  heard  to-day  !" 
Dr.  Bates,  with  a  crest-fallen  air, 
turned  in  haste  to  leave  the  room,  but 
his  better  feelings  prevailed,  and  step 
ping  back  he  said,  "  I  am  young,  fool 
ish,  and  conceited,  I  know,  sir,  and  I 
hope  I  have  learned  a  valuable  lesson 
this  day."  Then,  going  up  to  Daph, 
he  added  earnestly,  "  I  have  wronged 
you,  good  woman,  and  from  the  bot 
tom  of  my  heart  I  am  sorry  for  it.  If 

it  should  ever  be  in  my  power  to  serve 

8 


170  BABES   IN   THE   BASKET. 


you,  I  should  be  glad  to  make  amends 
for  what  I  have  done."  "  Now  don't, 
sir  !  don't,  please  !"  said  Daph,  dropping 
curtsy  after  curtsy,  and  murmur 
ing,  "the  young  gemman  meant  no 
harm,  Ise  sure,"  while  Dr.  Bates 
slowly  left  the  room.  As  soon  as  the 
doctor  was  out  of  sight,  Mrs.  Ray  took 
Daph  by  the  hand,  and  humbly  asked 
her  forgiveness. 

"Now  don't,  Miss'  Ray,  I  do  be 
shamed !"  said  Daph,  in  great  confu 
sion,  her  own  tears  for  the  first  time  be 
ginning  to  flow.  "  Don't  speak  so  to  a 
poor  creturlike  me.  We's  all  poor  sin 
ners  ;  it's  only  the  Lord  Jesus,"  sweet 
Miss  Rose  says,  "  that  can  make  us 
clean."  The  thought  of  having  said 


ANOTHER  FRIEND.  171 

so  much  in  the  presence  of  a  "  real 
gentleman  "  now  overcame  Daph,  and 
she  suddenly  relapsed  into  silence. 

"  Come,  Daph  !"  said  Diedrich  Stuy- 
vesant,  "it  is  time  for  you  to  be  out 
of  this  place." 

"  May  I  go  free,  sir?"  said  Daph, 
with  a  wondering,  joyous  look. 

"  Free  as  air !"  was  the  reply  of  Mr. 
Stuyvesant ;  "  there's  no  power  in  New 
York  can  keep  an  innocent  woman  in 
such  a  place  as  this." 

Daph  poured  forth  her  thanks  to  her 
deliverer,  and  Diedrich  Stuyvesant 
walked  forth,  followed  hy  the  woman. 

He  was  detained  but  for  a  moment 
in  the  doorway  by  the  officers,  by 
whom  Daph  had  been  arrested,  who 


172  BABES   IN   THE   BASKET. 


pleaded  that  no  action  should  be  taken 
against  them  for  their  unwarrantable 
proceeding,  and  were  glad  to  be  as 
sured  that  their  fault,  for  this  once, 
would  be  passed  over. 

It  excited  some  wonder  when  the 
well-known  citizen  passed  along  the 
street,  closely  followed  by  Mrs.  Ray 
and  Daph  ;  but  he  cared  little  for  the 
remarks  of  the  passers-by,  his  mind 
having  been  once  made  up  to  see  Daph 
safely  restored  to  the  home  from  which 
she  had  been  so  rudely  taken. 

Diedrich  Stuyvesant  moved  at  what 
was  an  unwonted  pace  for  him,  and  the 
house  with  the  blue  shutters  was  soon 
reached,  and  the  door  of  the  familiar 
room  thrown  open. 


ANOTHER   FRIEND.  173 


Eose  Stuy vesant  was  sitting  on  a  low 
chair,  Louise  at  her  side,  and  Charlie 
on  her  lap  ;  while  the  book  with  golden 
clasps  was  open  in  her  hand.  With 
one  shout  of  joy,  the  children  darted 
towards  Daph,  and  gave  her  a  welcome 
which  filled  her  honest  heart  with  joy. 

That  sight  was  a  reward  to  Diedrich 
Stuyvesant  for  all  the  unwonted  labors 
of  the  day. 

"  Come,  Rose  !"  he  said,  "  they  can 
do  without  us  now.  I  must  learn  to 
know  these  little  people  some  other 
day.  But  stay/7  he  added,  as  he  look 
ed  round  on  the  scrupulously  neat,  but 
very  plainly  furnished  apartment, 
"  Daph,  I  must  speak  to  you  a  mo 
ment,  before  I  go." 


174  BABES   IN  THE   BASKET. 


The  children  for  an  instant  were 
quiet,  and  the  wealthy  citizen  drew  his 
purse  from  his  pocket,  and  holding  it 
towards  Daph,  he  said,  "  You  ought  to 
have  something  to  make  amends  for 
this  day's  trouble.-  Take  that  for  you 
and  the  children." 

"Ise  thank  you,  sir,"  said  Daph, 
drawing  back,  "  Ise  thank  you,  sir,  but 
my  missus'  childen  shall  want  for  noth 
ing  while  poor  old  Daph  can  work 
for  them." 

"Well,  have  your  own  way  Daph," 
said  Diedrich  Stuyvesant ;  "but  one 
thing  you  must  let  me  do  for  you.  Let 
me  take  the  gold  chains  that  have  given 
you  so  much  trouble,  and  put  them  in 
safe  keeping.  I  will  see  that  you  get 


ANOTHER   FEIEND.  175 


their  full  value  in  money,  if  you  should 
ever  be  in  need.'7 

The  treasured  jewelry  was  cheer 
fully  relinquished  ;  and  Daph  even 
felt  relieved  to  have  them  no  longer 
in  her  charge. 

"  Remember,  Daph,"  said  the  kind- 
hearted  citizen,  as  he  bade  her  good 
bye,  "remember,  you  have  something 
now  to  depend  upon." 

"  Ise  thank  you  for  your  goodness, 
sir — Ise  thank  you.  Ise  sure  the  great 
Lord  will  nebber  let  Daph  come  to 
want." 

"  Never,  Daph  !  either  in  this  world 
or  the  next ! "  said  Rose  ;  and  with 
one  of  her  sweet  smiles  she  followed 
her  father  from  the  room. 


XII. 


THE  days  of  excitement  and  distress, 
so  full  of  moment  to  Daph,  were  suc 
ceeded  by  a  time  of  comparative  quiet 
and  peace. 

Every  morning  the  kind  voice  of 
Rose  Stuyvesant,  broke  in  upon  the 
solitude  of  Daph  and  the  little  ones. 
Louise  learned  to  look  as  eagerly  for 
the  face  of  Rose  as  a  flower  for  the 
sunlight,  and  to  turn  as  fondly  to 
wards  it.  There  seemed  to  be  for  the 
little  girl  an  irresistible  charm  in  the  re- 

(176) 


HOME   SCENES.  177 


finemeut  and  guilelessness  of  her  new 
friend  ;  and  the  sweet  words  of  holy 
teaching,  that  ever  dropped  from  the 
lips  of  Rose,  had  waked  to  music,  a 
chord  in  the  child's  heart,  that  had 
long  slumbered  in  silence.  The  sensi 
tive  conscience  and  peculiar  interest  in 
spiritual  things,  that  had  marked  her 
when  under  her  mother's  influence, 
became  again  evident.  As  from  a 
weary  dream,  she  woke  to  the  beauty 
and  reality  of  religious  truth. 

Rose  was  no  sentimental  teacher, 
contented  with  exciting  mere  feeling, 
that  worked  to  no  good  end. 

The  unselfish  devotion  and  respectful 
deference  of  poor  Daph,  had  fostered 

a    slight   imperiousness   in    the    little 

8* 


178.  BABES   IN   THE   BASKET. 

Louise  ;  and  she  had  learned  to  seek 
her  own  comfort,  with  but  too  little 
regard  for  the  feelings  and  wishes  of 
others 

Rose  soon  saw  that  her  little  pet 
was  in  danger  of  becoming  quietly 
selfish,  and  unconsciously  proud  and 
dictatorial. 

Tenderly,  but  faithfully,  the  young 
teacher  pointed  out  to  Louise  the 
germs  of  those  hateful  faults,  growing 
and  strengthening  in  the  bad  soil  of  an 
evil  heart ;  and  the  conscience  of  the 
child,  made  her  deeply  feel  the  neces 
sity  of  the  warning  thus  affectionately 
given. 

Bad  habits,  long  indulged,  are  not 
easily  overcome,  even  when  the  high- 


HOME   SCENES.  179 


est  and  best  motives  govern  the  con 
duct. 

"  Put  on  my  stockings,  this  minute, 
Daph  !  You  are  so  slow  !  "  said  Lou 
ise,  one  morning,  putting  out  her  white 
foot  imperatively  towards  the  kneeling 
negro. 

"  Yes,  yes,  Miss  Lou,"  said  Daph, 
humbly,  "  Daph  do  be  radder  slow; 
but  somehow  she  isn  't  so  spry  as  she 
used  to  be." 

This  was  not  the  only  complaint  that 
Louise  had  to  make  that  morning  • 
every  thing  seemed  to  go  wrong  with 
her,  and  Charlie  declared,  "  Sister 
Lou"  was  so  cross  that  he  had  rather 
go  and  play  in  the  garden  alone,  than 
stay  anywhere  near  her. 


180  BABES   IX   THE   BASKET. 


Daph  gave  a  sorrowful  look  at  her 
}roung  mistress,  and  then  went  to  the 
kitchen  to  prepare  some  of  the  tempt 
ing  cakes  which  were  now  in  such 
demand,  and  Louise  was  left  quite 
alone. 

She  took  up  a  piece  of  sewing  on 
which  Rose  had  been  patiently  trying 
to  teach  her  to  hem  ;  but  the  thread 
"went  in  knots,"  the  needle  pricked 
her  finger,  and  she  threw  the  work 
down  in  despair,  and  began  to  cry 
with  all  her  might. 

The  door  softly  opened  and  a  gentle 
hand  was  laid  upon  her  shoulder. 
"  What  grieves  you,  darling?'7  said 
the  sweet  voice  of  Rose  Stuyvesant. 

"  Oh,  oh  !  "  exclaimed  the  little  girl, 


HOME   SCENES.  181 


not  looking  up,  "  I  have  been  so  cross 
and  naughty  all  this  morning,  I  do  not 
believe  I  am  one  of  the  Lord  Jesus' 
little  lambs,  at  all,  and  I  am  very,  very 
unhappy ! " 

Rose  sat  down  beside  her  little 
friend,  and  throwing  her  arm  tenderly 
around  her,  she  said,  "  You  must 
not  be  discouraged,  my  darling,  listen 
now  to  me.  Suppose  that  you  were 
so  very  sick,  that  if  you  did  not  soon 
get  better,  you  would  surely  die. 
Now,  suppose  a  kind  physician  should 
come  to  you  and  offer  you  some  medi 
cine  that  would  check  your  fever,  and 
save  you  from  the  death  that  was  so 
near.  How  you  would  love  him,  and 
how  willingly  you  would  do  all  that 


182  BABES   IN   THE   BASKET. 

he  said  was  necessary  for  you.  It 
might  be  many,  many  weeks  before 
you  were  quite  well ;  but  how  pa 
tiently  you  would  take  the  medicines 
he  ordered,  and  how  cheerfully  you 
would  follow  his  advice,  until  you  were 
again  full  of  health  and  strength.  And 
when  you  could  walk  about  once  more 
and  breathe  the  sweet,  fresh  air,  then 
you  would  be  most  warmly  grateful  to 
the  kind  physician  who  had  come  to 
your  sick  bed,  and  saved  you  from 
expected  death.  Dear  Louise,  Christ 
has  shed  his  blood  to  save  you  from 
everlasting  death,  which  is  very  near 
to  all  who  are  not  the  true  children  of 
God.  Whenever  you  put  your  trust 
in  the  dear  Saviour,  you  are  safe  from 


HOME   SCENES.  183 


that  death  j  but  it  may  be  long,  long 
before  your  heart  will  be  clean  from 
sin,  and  your  bad  habits  will  be  wholly 
cured.  What  says  the  kind  physician 
to  you  ?  '  Watch  and  pray.  Strive  to 
enter  in  at  the  strait  gate.'  You 
must  be  willing  to  struggle,  patiently, 
against  your  faults,  trying  to  do  right, 
and  looking  to  God  for  strength  to  go 
on.  You  must  go  forward  cheerfully 
and  hopefully,  thinking  of  what  Christ 
has  done  for  you,  and  dwelling  on  that 
happy  time  when  you  will  be  safe 
in  Heaven,  and  your  heart  will  be  full 
of  gratitude  to  Him  who  has  saved 
your  soul  from  death,  and  purified  you 
by  His  grace.  Do  you  understand  me, 
darling?" 


184  BABES  IN  THE  BASKET. 


"Yes,  yes,'7  sobbed  little  Louise, 
"  and  indeed  I  will  try — try  harder." 

"  Suppose  you  begin  to-day,"  said 
Rose,  "  to  see  if  you  cannot  do  some 
thing  for  others  ;  that  is  the  best  cure 
for  selfishness.  Here,  I  have  brought 
an  apron  for  Daph,  which  I  want  you 
to  make.  It  will  please  her  to  think 
you  have  done  it  for  her.  She  is  so 
kind  to  you,  that  you  should  try  to 
make  her  happy." 

Louise  had  always  accepted  Daph  s 
services  as  a  matter  of  course,  and  it 
dawned  upon  her  as  a  new  idea  that  she 
was  to  try  to  make  happy  the  humble 
creature  who  never  seemed  to  have  a 
wish  but  to  serve  her  master's  children 
faithfully. 


HOME   SCENES.  185 

Little  by  little,  Louise  began  to  take 
hold  of  the  idea  that  to  be  Christ-like 
is  to  be  useful,  fond  of  making  others 
happy,  and  forgetful  of  self. 

Daph  resisted  stoutly  when  Louise 
first  proposed  to  dress  herself,  and  be 
gan  by  degrees  to  take  some  care  of 
Charlie.  "But,"  thought  the  poor 
negro,  "Daph  may  die  some  day,  and 
the  sweet  little  mistress  do  be  right  ; 
she  must  learn  to  help  herself  a  little, 
for  nobody  knows  what  may  happen." 

"Here  Daffy,  I  have  made  this  for 
you  all  myself!"  said  Louise,  joyfully, 
as  she  held  up  the  apron,  which  after 
many  days  of  secret  toil  she  had  com 
pleted. 

'  For  Daph,  Miss  Lou  !  and  all  made 


186  BABES  IN  THE  BASKET. 

with  those  dear  little  hands.  Now 
"Daph  do  feel  proud !"  and  tears  filled 
the  eyes  of  the  honest  creature. 

It  was  not  the  mere  gift  that  made 
the  heart  of  the  negro  throb  with  plea 
sure  ;  but  it  was  the  kind  considera 
tion,  the  patient  thought  for  her  wel 
fare  that  overcame  her,  as  she  said, 
"You  do  be  like  dear  missus  now! 
Dat's  de  way  she  used  to  speak  to  poor 
Daph." 

Dear  Daffy/7  said  Louise,  bursting 
into  tears,  "I  do  not  mean  to  be  ever 
naughty  to  you  again.  Indeed,  I  am. 
very,  very  sorry.  I  am  going  to  be 
one  of  the  Lord  Jesus'  little  children 
now,  and  you  know  he  was  always  kind 
and  gentle." 


HOME   SCENES.  187 


"  Now  de  great  Lord  be  praised!" 
said  Daph,  as  she  sank  down  quite 
.overcome.  "Daph  do  be  too  full  of 
joy,  to  hear  dose  words  from  her  own 
little  dear.  De  Lord  help  her,  and 
bring  her  to  his  beautiful  home  !" 

To  be  able  to  read  her  mother's  Bi 
ble  now  became  the  dearest  wish  of  the 
little  Louise,  and  with  this  strong  mo 
tive  she  made  rapid  progress  in  the 
daily  lessons  she  took  from  her  kind 
friend  Rose.  The  patience  and  perse 
verance  of  both  teacher  and  scholar 
were  at  length  rewarded.  Louise  was 
able,  after  a  few  months  of  careful  in 
struction,  to  take  her  mother's  Bible, 
and,  in  her  sweet,  childlike  way,  read 
the  words  of  truth  and  beauty  that 


188  BABES   IN  THE   BASKET. 


flowed  from  the  lips  of  Him  who 
"  spake  as  never  man  spake." 

The  leaves,  brightened  by  early 
frosts,  still  fluttered  on  the  trees,  and 
the  soft  air  of  Indian  summer  floated 
in  at  the  open  windows.  A  lovely  au 
tumn  day  was  drawing  to  a  close. 
Daph  and  her  little  charge  had  taken 
their  simple  evening  meal,  and  for  a 
moment  there  was  silence  in  the  cheer 
ful  room. 

"  Daffy,"  said  Louise,  "I  will  read 
to  you  now  out  of  the  dear  book." 

Daph  sat  down  reverently  on  her 
low  bench,  and  Charlie,  in  imitation, 
quietly  took  his  own  little  chair. 

"  The  Lord  is  my  shepherd,  I  shall 
not  want,"  read  the  subdued  voice  of 


HOME   SCENES.  189 


the  child,  while  the  negro  bent  forward 
to  catch  each  word  of  the  beautiful 
psalm. 

"She  do  be  one  of  the  great  shep 
herd's  lambs,  sure  'nough,"  murmured 
Daph,  as  the  little  girl  closed  the  book 
and  said, 

"  Now  Daffy,  we'll  sing  a  hymn." 
Little  Charlie  joined  his  voice  with 
that  of  his  earnest  sister,  and  poor 
Daph,  'mid  fast  flowing  tears,  added 
her  notes  of  praise  to  that  evening 
hymn.  Joy  and  peace  that  evening 
pervaded  those  few  hearts  in  that  hum 
ble  room,  for  it  was  bright  with  His 
presence  who  has  said,  "  Where  two  or 
three  are  gatheted  together  in  my 
name,  there  am  I  in  the  midst  of 
them." 


XIII. 

glarg  !»»• 

IT  was  midnight.  Charlie  and  Louise 
were  locked  in  the  sound  sleep  of  youth 
and  vigorous  health  ;  but  Daph,  with 
the  half-wakefulness  of  a  faithful  dog, 
was  not  so  dead  to  the  outer  world. 

A  slight  knock,  and  then  a  stealthy 
footstep,  roused  the  negro,  and  she 
started  up  and  looked  about  her.  In 
the  dim  moonlight  she  saw  Mary  Ray 
standing  at  her  bedside,  with  her  finger 
on  her  lips,  and  herself  setting  the  ex 
ample  in  every  motionless  limb,  of  the 
silence  she  imposed.  • 

Mary  took  Daph  by  the  hand,  and 

(190) 


MARY   RAY.  191 


led  her  into  the  hall,  and  then  said  in 
a  whisper, 

"  I  could  not  go  without  bidding  you 
good-bye,  you  have  always  been  so 
kind  to  me  ?" 

Daph  looked  in  wonder  at  the  slen 
der  young  girl,  wrapped  in  her  shawl, 
and  carrying  a  small  bundle  in  her 
hand. 

"Where  is  you  going,  Mary?"  she 
said,  anxiously  ;  "  it's  no  good  is  takin' 
you  from  home  at  this  time  of  night." 

"I  can  bear  it  no  longer,"  said 
Mary,  with  quiet  determination  ;  "  I 
have  never  had  a  home,  and  now  I  am 
going  to  look  for  one  for  myself. 
Mother  may  find  out  that,  if  I  am  (  only 
a  girl,'  she  will  miss  me.  Good-bye, 


192  BABES   IN  THE   BASKET. 

Daph.  I  should  like  to  kiss  the  chil 
dren  once  more,  but  I  am  afraid  I 
should  wake  them.  Good-bye !"  and 
the  young  girl  shook  the  hand  of  her 
humble  friend. 

The  hand  she  had  given  was  not  so 
easily  released  ;  it  was  held  gently  but 
firmly  as  if  in  a  vice. 

"  Ise  wont  let  you  go — go  straight  to 
black  sin,"  said  Daph,  earnestly  ;  "  you's 
a  leavin'  the  mother  the  great  Lord  gave 
you  ;  you's  a  leavin'  the  home  the  great 
Lord  put  you  in,  and  there's  black  sin 
a  waitin'  outside  for  you,  if  you  go  so 
young  and  lone  ;  Ise  will  not  let  you  go !" 

"  I  cannot  bear  it  any  longer,"  said 
Mary,  and  she  sank  down  on  the  floor, 
and  wiped  away  her  fast-flowing  tears. 


MARY   RAY.  193 


Mary  had  of  late  had  a  hard  life,  in 
deed.  Mrs.  Ray  had  been  slowly  com 
ing  to  a  knowledge  of  herself,  and  this 
knowledge,  instead  of  bringing  repent 
ance  and  reformation,  had  made  her 
doubly  unreasonable  and  irritable,  and 
on  Mary  she  had  vented  all  her  ill-hu 
mor. 

Though  still  treated  as  a  child,  Mary 
had  become,  in  feeling  and  strength 
of  character,  a  woman.  The  sense  of 
injustice  and  ill-treatment,  which  had 
grown  with  her  growth,  had  now  reach 
ed  its  height.  The  down-trodden  child, 
now  felt  herself  a  curbed,  thwarted, 
almost  persecuted  woman,  and  she  was 
determined  to  bear  her  present  life  no 
longer. 


194:  BABES   IN   THE   BASKET. 

It  was  in  vain  that  Daph  plead  with 
her  to  give  up  her  wild  purpose  ;  at  last 
all  the  poor  negro's  store  of  persuasion 
and  warning  was  exhausted,  and  in  her 
despair,  she  said  desperately,  "Now 
you  Mary  jus  sit  still  here,  and  let  Daph 
tell  you  somewhat  dat  do  he  all  sol 
emn  true,  ebery  single  word."  Daph 
had  been  no  inattentive  listener  to 
Rose's  frequent  reading  of  the  Saviour's 
life  on  earth  ;  and  now,  in  her  own 
simple,  graphic  language,  she  sketched 
the  outline  of  his  patient  suffering,  and 
painful,  unresisted  death.  She  told  of 
the  glory  of  His  heaven,  where  those 
who  humbly  follow  Him,  shall  rejoice 
forever  ;  and  the  speaker  and  the  list 
ener  forgot  the  dreary  place  and  the 


MARY   RAY.  195 


midnight  hour,  as  she  dwelt  in  faith 
on  that  glorious  theme.  "  Dere  '11  be 
nobody  dere,  Mary,  dat  turns  de  back 
on  de  work  de  Lord  gibs  em  to  do ! " 
said  Daph,  earnestly.  "Stay,  Mary, 
and  try  to  bear  for  de  Lord  Jesus' 
sake  !  Who  knows  but  your  poor  ma, 
her  own  self,  may  learn  to  know  bout 
de  heavenly  home  ?" 

"  Every  human  heart  has  its  trials, 
which  it  can  only  bear  in  the  strength 

that  God  alone  can  give.  Every 
human  heart  feels  the  need  of  comfort 
and  hope,  which  can  only  be  found 
in  God's  truth. 

Mary  Ray  was  touched  by  the  sim 
ple  eloquence  of  her  humble  friend, 
and  acted  upon  by  the  glorious  mo- 


196  BABES   IN   THE   BASKET. 

lives  held  out  to  her  for  new  efforts  of 
forbearance  and  patient  endurance. 

The  world  she  had  known  was 
dreary  and  dismal  enough  ;  but  what 
terrors,  trials,  and  temptations  might 
not  await  her  in  the  new  scenes  into 
which  she  was  hastily  rushing.  Sub 
dued  and  softened,  she  crept  back  to 
her  bed,  and  lay  down  beside  the 
mother  whom  she  had  so  nearly  for 
saken.  Compared  with  the  wide,  lone 
world  without,  that  poor,  low  room 
seemed  a  kindly  and  comfortable  shel 
ter  ;  and  as  her  mother  sighed  and 
groaned  in  her  sleep,  Mary  felt  that 
natural  affection  was  not  yet  dead  in 
her  heart — that  a  tie  bound  her  to  her 
on  whose  bosom  she  had  been  nursed. 


MARY   KAY.  197 

True  prayer  was  at  that  moment 
going  up  to  heaven  for  the  poor,  tried, 
desperate  girl.  And  what  faithful  pe 
tition  was  ever  unnoticed  or  unan 
swered  ! 

Mary  met  Daph's  kind  "  good  morn 
ing,"  with  a  shy,  averted  face,  and 
kept  out  of  her  way  as  much  as  possi 
ble  during  the  day. 

When  evening  came  on  and  the 
sound  of  singing  was  heard  in  the  room 
of  the  lodgers.  Mary  lingered  at  the 
open  door,  and  did  not  resist  when 
Daph  noiselessly  stepped  to  her  side 
and  drew  her  to  the  low  bench  where 
she  herself  was  seated. 

Mary  Ray  learned  to  love  that  even* 
ing  hour  when  she  could  hear  Louise 


198  BABES   IN   THE   BASKET. 

read  of  the  blessed  Saviour,  and  join 
her  voice  in  the  hymns  of  praise,  that 
went  up  from  the  faithful  worshippers. 

Even  this  pleasure  she  was  soon 
obliged  to  deny  herself;  for  all  her 
time  and  attention  were  needed  beside 
the  sick  bed  of  her  mother. 

Mrs.  Ray  had  never  wholly  recov 
ered  from  the  severe  cold  with  which 
she  had  been  attacked  soon  after  the 
arrival  of  Daph.  At  times,  her  cough 
returned  upon  her  with  violence,  and 
at  length  a  sudden  hemorrhage  laid 
her  low.  Prostrate,  enfeebled  and 
helpless,  Mrs.  Ray  had  time  to  dwell 
upon  her  past  life,  and  see  all  too 
plainly,  the  hatefulness  of  her  own 
wicked  heart.  A  dull  despair  crept 


3IARY   RAY.  199 

over  her.  She  gave  herself  up  as  a 
lost  and  hopeless  being,  waiting  for 
her  eternal  doom.  Paph  felt  her  own 
incapacity  to  reason  with,  and  comfort 
the  wretched  woman,  and  to  Rose  she 
turned  for  aid  and  counsel. 

Often  and  long  Rose  Stuyvesant  sat 
beside  the  bed  of  the  unhappy  woman, 
and  strove  to  open  her  mind  to  the 
free  forgiveness,  granted  through  the 
blood  of  Christ  Jesus.  Her  words  of 
peace  seemed  to  fall  on  a  deaf  ear  and 
a  deadened  heart ;  but  to  the  listen 
ing,  unnoticed  Mary,  they  were  the 
message  of  pardon  and  joy  in  be 
lieving. 

Long  years  of  humbling  sickness 
were  in  store  for  Mrs.  Ray,  during 


200  BABES   IN  THE   BASKET. 

which  she  was  to  be  dependent  for 
care  and  sustenance  upon  the  child 
she  had  undervalued  and  ill-treated. 
From  that  child  to  whom  she  had 
given  life,  she  was  to  receive  the  still 
greater  blessing  of  being  gently  led 
towards  the  life  eternal. 

Mary's  days  and  nights  of  watching, 
and  words  of  holy  comfort,  fell  like 
the  noiseless  dew  on  the  heart  of  the 
mother,  till  at  last,  remorse  was  ex 
changed  for  repentance,  and  the  cold 
alienation  of  a  sinful  heart,  for  the 
loving  trust  of  one,  forgiven  through 
the  "  Only  Mediator." 

Meanwhile,  Daph  went  cheerfully 
and  industriously  on,  providing  for  the 
physical  wants  of  the  children  so  dear 


MARY   RAY.  201 


to  her  ;  while  Rose,  with  almost  a 
mother's  love,  led  them  in  the  way  of 
truth  and  moulded  them  by  her  sweet 
influence.  Little  by  little  she  managed 
to  throw  an  air  of  refinement  about 
the  humble  room  where  they  dwelt, 
and  to  add  many  comforts  and  luxuries 
to  their  hitherto  simple  way  of  life. 
She  advised  Daph  as  to  their  plain  but 
tasteful  style  of  dress,  and  gave  to  their 
manners  that  nameless  charm  of  deli 
cacy  and  true  politeness,  which  Daph 
felt  herself  so  unable  to  describe,  or 
impart. 

While  Louise  grew  tall,  graceful  and 
attractive,  and  Charlie's  ruddy  face 
was  bright  with  frank  cheerfulness, 
Rose  fancied  that  Daph's  step  waxed 


202  BABES  IK  THE   BASKET. 


feeble,  and  her  figure  less  straight  than 
in  the  first  days  of  their  acquaintance. 

When  Rose  expressed  anxiety  about 
the  health  of  the  poor  negro,  to  whom 
she  was  really  strongly  attached, 
Daph  would  answer  with  a  smile  : 

"Daph  do  be  a  bit  older.  Miss  Rose  ; 
but  nebber  you  fret  for  her.  De  great 
Lord  wont  take  her  away  yet,  she 
most  sure.  Nebber  you  mind  Daph  j 
she  do  be  well  enough — and  oh,  so 
happy ! " 

The  upward  glance  of  the  eye  of 
honest  Daph,  told  of  the  source  of  her 
happiness,  and  the  spring  of  her  faith 
ful,  conscientious  life, 


XIY. 


"  GOOD-BYE,  dears!"  said  Daph,  as 
she  went  forth  as  usual  one  morning, 
with  her  basket  on  her  head. 

"  Good-bye,  Daffy,  dear  Daffy  !"  said 
the  young  voices,  and  she  was  gone. 

Those  sweet  sounds  lingered  in  the 
ear  of  the  negro?  as  she  walked  along 
the  crowded  street,  unconscious  of  all 
around  her,  and  lost  in  meditation  on 
the  many  mercies  of  her  lot. 

The  passers-by  noticed  her  frank, 
good  face,  her  tidy  figure,  and  snow- 

(203) 


204  BABES   IX   THE   BASKET. 


white  apron  ;  but  she  seemed  to  see  no 
one,  until,  as  if  struck  with  sudden 
frenzy,  she  gave  one  leap  into  the  air, 
exclaiming, 

"  Is  I  in  a  blessed  dream  !'? 

The  neat  cover  flew  from  the  pass 
ing  basket ;  far  and  wide  rolled  the 
frosted  cakes,  and  little  ragged  chil 
dren  made  merry  with  the  stores  of 
Daph's  cookery.  Little  did  she  care. 
Her  arms  were  thrown  round  the  knees 
of  an  astonished  lady,  and  her  lips 
kissed  the  hand  of  the  tall,  pale  gen 
tleman  at  the  lady's  side. 

11  Pull  off  the  crazy  woman  !"  shout 
ed  a  bystander,  stepping  forward  to 
suit  the  action  to  the  word  •  but  Daph 
had  found  a  protector,  in  the  confi- 


THE   BASKET   OVERTURNED.  205 

dence  of  whose  kindness  she  would 
have  faced  the  world. 

"  My  own  missus  !  my  massa  !"  sob 
bed  the  poor  negro,  as  she  clung  to  the 
loved  and  long-mourned  friends  who 
stood  before  her. 

"Is  it  you,  Daph !"  they  said,  as,  lit 
tle  less  moved  than  herself,  they  raised 
her  from  her  humble  position. 

"  Ise  got  'em  !  Ise  got  'em !"  she  ex 
claimed.  "  De  childen  !  Dey's  safe! 
Ise  got  'em !  De  Lord  be  praised !" 

Who  can  tell  the  throb  of  joy  that 
shook  that  mother's  heart,  or  the  deep 
emotion  that  filled  the  eyes  of  the 
strong  man  with  gushing  tears  ! 

They  needed  not  to  tell  Daph  to 
lead  the  way  to  their  treasures.  On 


206  BABES   IN   THE   BASKET. 


she  sped  through  street  and  lane,  fol 
lowed  by  hurrying  footsteps  and  beat 
ing  hearts. 

The  small  house  with  the  blue  shut 
ters  was  reached,  the  threshold  was 
crossed  !  A  moment  the  mother  paus 
ed,  as  if  to  gather  strength  for  the 
meeting,  and  then  the  door  was  thrown 
open. 

In  that  simple,  neat  room,  sat  the 
fair  Louise,  her  bit  of  sewing  in  her 
hand,  while  beside  her  Charlie  bent 
over  the  book  he  was  reading  aloud  to 
his  sister. 

The  wondering  children  were  clasp 
ed  in  their  mother's  arms,  and  received 
their  father's  loving  embrace  •  while 
Daph,  almost  wild  with  joy,  kept  re- 


THE   BASKET   OVERTURNED.  207 


peating,  "  You's  no  more  lone  orphans, 
with  only  poor  old  Daph  to  mind  you ! 
De  Lord  be  praised  !  Daph's  work  is 
done.  She  be  ready  to  go  now,  when 
it  pleases  de  Lord  Jesus !" 

How  those  parents  rejoiced  to  have 
their  lost  ones  restored,  sound  in 
health,  and  bearing  every  evidence  of 
having  been  trained  to  habits  of  neat 
ness,  and  nurtured  in  delicacy  and  re 
finement  !  This  was  joy,  indeed  ;  but 
who  shall  describe  the  gladness  of  the 
mother  when  she  found  her  children 
speaking  of  the  Saviour  as  a  familiar 
friend,  and  bearing,  however  faintly, 
his  image  in  their  hearts  I  Such  joy 
angels  know,  when  they  welcome  at 
the  gate  of  heaven  the  weary  pilgrim 


208  BABES   IN   THE   BASKET. 

of  earth,  and  usher  him  into  the 
eternal  home  of  the  Father ! 

Daph  listened  with  wondering  eyes 
and  grateful  heart  to  the  story  of  their 
escape,  whom  she  had  so  long  mourned, 
and  whose  place  she  had  so  striven  to 
fill. 

The  coachman,  who  was  pledged  to 
murder  his  master  and  mistress,  relent 
ed,  and  resolved  to  save  them  from  the 
ruin  with  which  they  were  threatened. 

Gen.  Latourette's  first  suspicion  of 
danger  was  roused  by  finding  that  they 
had  been  driven  in  the  wrong  direc 
tion,  while  he  in  careless  confidence 
had  been  chatting  with  his  wife.  In 
the  moonlight,  he  could  see  the  flash 
ing  of  the  waves  and  hear  the  murmur 


THE   BASKET   OVERTURNED.  209 

of  the  waters,  and  yet  he  knew  he  was 
not  near  his  home,  but  at  some  less 
familiar  part  of  the  coast. 

Calling  out  hastily  to  the  coachman, 
the  carriage  came  to  a  stand  ;  General 
Latourette  became  aware  that  the 
horses  had  been  cut  loose,  and  he  saw 
the  fellow,  pistol  in  hand,  seated  upon 
one  of  them. 

In  a  few  hurried  words  the  negro 
told  the  danger  of  the  moment,  and 
pointed  to  a  boat  at  the  water-side, 
which  offered  to  his  master  and  mis 
tress  some  hope  of  escape. 

Did  Mrs.  Latourette  forget  her  little 
ones  in  that  hour  of  peril  ?  No  !  She 
pleaded  to  go  to  them,  if  but  to  min 
gle  her  blood  with  theirs.  The  negro 


210  BABES   IN  THE   BASKET. 

assured  her  they  were  already  sleeping 
the  sleep  of  death,  and  implored  her 
to  fly  with  her  husband,  while  yet  their 
lives  might  be  saved. 

Thus  urged,  they  entered  the  little 
boat,  and  while  the  strong  arm  of  the 
husband  sustained  the  drooping  wife, 
and  guided  the  little  skiff  over  the 
dark  waters,  the  negro  went  his  way, 
to  show  the  contents  of  the  rifled 
trunks  as  proofs  of  the  crime  he  had  in 
reality  shrunk  from  committing. 

Gen.  Latourette  and  his  wife  reached 
a  neighboring  island  in  safety  ;  but 
exiled  forever  from  their  own  dear 
home. 

Sorrowful,  as  the  childless  only  can 
be,  the  world  seemed  to  them  sudden- 


THE   BASKET   OVERTURNED.  211 

ly  robbed  of  its  brightness  ;  they  could 
not  have  borne  the  trials  of  their  lot, 
but  for  the  sustaining  hand  of  the  Fa 
ther  in  Heaven,  in  whom  they  had  in 
the  days  of  their  prosperity  learned  to 
trust. 

Several  years  of  foreign  travel  had 
in  a  measure  recruited  the  failing  health 
of  Gen.  Latourette,  and  time  had  calm 
ed  the  poignant  grief  of  his  wife.  They 
had  come  to  New  York,  hoping  once 
more  to  have  a  home  of  their  own,  sor 
rowful  though  that  home  must  be. 

Bereaved  and  childless  no  more,  with 
deep  thankfulness  they  praised  the  God 
of  Heaven  for  his  most  unexpected 
mercies,  and  devoted  themselves  anew 
to  His  service. 


212  BABES   IX   THE   BASKET. 

As  for  Daph,  their  gratitude  to  her 
knew  no  bounds,  and  they  felt  that,  for 
her  faithful  services,  they  could  find  no 
adequate  reward  on  earth. 


XY. 


GEN.  LATOURETTE  and  his  wife  had 
once  more  a  home  of  their  own,  made 
bright  by  the  smiles  of  their  affection 
ate  children. 

At  that  home  Rose  Stuyvesant  was 
received  as  a  loved  friend,  and  made  a 
sharer  in  the  pure  joy  she  had  assisted 
in  laying  up  for  the  happy  parents. 
There  Diedrich  Stuyvesant  had  been 
welcomed  as  an  honored  guest,  and 
there  Captain  Jones  had  seen,  in  the 

(213) 


214  BABES   IN   THE    BASKET. 


united   family,  something  which  gave 
his  kind  heart  more  joy  than  did  the 
warm   expressions    of    gratitude  that 
were  lavished  upon  him,  or  the  more 
substantial  favors  that  were  bestowed 
with   no  stinted   hand  on  the  honest 
sailor.     Even  Mary  Ray  and  her  in 
valid  suffering  mother  experienced  the 
cheering   influence    that   flowed    from 
that   happy  home,    and    felt  that,   al 
though  their  lodgers  were  gone,  they 
had  in  them  still  warm   and  powerful 
friends.     In  the  midst  of  this  grateful 
rejoicing  was   Daph  forgotten  ?     No  I 
Among  the  loved  and  honored,  she  was 
best  loved  and  most  cared  for.     In  the 
neat  room  assigned  to  her  was  cluster 
ed  every  comfort  that   could  smooth 


THE   END.  215 

the  declining  years  or  cheer  the  humble 
spirit  of  the  faithful  negro.  She  prized 
each  token  of  loving  remembrance  that 
made  that  room  beautiful  in  her  eyes  ; 
but  dearest  to  her  was  the  Bible  with 
the  golden  clasps,  which  lay  on  her 
table,  placed  there  by  her  mistress, 
with  words  which  filled  the  heart  of 
Daph  with  tearful  joy. 

"  Where  is  Daph  this  morning?" 
asked  Gen.  Latourette  at  the  break 
fast  table  ;  "  I  did  not  see  her  dear  old 
face  in  the  hall,  as  I  came  down." 

"  She  is  not  awake  yet,"  said  the 
wife  ;  "  I  told  the  children  they  must 
not  rouse  her.  She  must  take  her 
rest ;  her  days  of  labor  are  over." 

' '  God   grant  that  our  work  may  be 


216  BABES   IX   THE   BASKET. 


as  well  done  P7  said  the  father,  sol 
emnly. 

Later  in  the  day,  the  children  could 
not  be  kept  from  "just  looking  at  char 
Daffy,  even  if  she  were  asleep.77 

The  family  party  entered  the  quiet 
room. 

The  sunbeams  shone  across  the  floor 
with  cheerful  light ;  but  they  were 
dark  to  the  gaze  of  Daph,  for  she  was 
beholding  the  unveiled  glory  of  the 
Sun  of  Righteousness.  The  voice  of 
earthly  affection  could  wake  her  no 
more,  for  she  had  listened  to  the  wel 
come  of  angels,  and  heard  the  voice 
of  her  Saviour  declare,  "Well  done, 
thou  good  and  faithful  servant,  enter 
thou  into  the  joy  of  thy  Lord  !77 


X. 


